Rant incoming. I’m a member of a 3 person team. Let’s call my coworkers Marie and Zoe. Marie is my boss, and Zoe is a coworker. Zoe has worked here much longer than Marie. Zoe’s former boss retired and Marie took her place.
We work in our companies HR department. I started during the height of COVID in 2020. I was in-office. Marie was as well. We wore masks and distanced. Zoe was approved by the owners to be work-from-home because she has small children. Marie and I do not have kids.
Come summer of 2022, Zoe had still not returned to office. Despite her children going to school in person again. The owners approved her to be permanently work from home due to her tenure and reputation. To be clear, work from home is AGAINST our company policy. It’s in the handbook.
Fast forward a few months later to fall 2022, my boss Marie announced she worked out a hybrid schedule with the owners. Since fall 2022, she’s been work from home everyday except Friday. She comes in Friday.
This past winter 2023 we had really bad weather coming, I applied to be work from home. The owners and Marie told me NO, it’s not allowed per the company handbook. I brought up Zoe and Marie and they said due to their tenure and high-up positions they’re granted exceptions.
It’s now summer 2023. I’ve been applying for work from home jobs & hybrid jobs to no avail. It’s not easy out there. Especially because I only have an associates in my field.
I’m now tempted to take another in-office job at basically any other local company simply because the double standard is appalling to me.
I’m here to just rant basically. There’s really companies out here allowing only SOME select individuals to work from home. Before people come for me saying I should’ve left way sooner, I’m paid quite well compared to similar jobs in my area. But Marie and Zoe do make a lot more than me…
I’m now leaving realizing less money would be better if it meant more equal treatment.