Just another not being able to work from home rant. I’ve got a pretty good gig, so I’ll acknowledge that privilege right up front, I have a desk job and my team is professional and I’m happy to work with them. But my manager is one of those micro-managers that pretends she doesn’t. She means well and did take me on to teach me this position, but her version of this is to want me always in the office so she can turn around (in our open office) and talk to me whenever she feels like. I really liked her and we got along well, but I just had a meeting with her that shattered all the illusions she had created that she actually cared about me. I know I know, I should’ve never fallen into the trap that I was “one of the lucky ones” with a boss I thought got me.
Cue the meeting we had this morning, where she told me I would no longer be able to wfh for the one day a week I had been for the last year. That day was precious to me, where I could be alone in the quiet and just do my work. There’s only a few of us in the office, but there’s a lot of constant talking for one reason or another. We went back and forth for a few minutes as I pushed back, telling her that my mental health would tank (I’m medicated for depression and anxiety) and my production would not increase. She was fine with this, telling me that mental health is important and that I can use my generous amount of sick time (I get about a week and a half each year) to take mental health days. I pointed out that there was currently a member of our team that was wfh today and hadn’t told anyone. She regularly does this to stay home with her kids and whatever else she needs to do. Everyone is allowed to come and go without asking permission, except me. The answer was that If I had more seniority or kids, there’s a chance I would be offered more freedom. But alas I cannot afford a house or children at this time, and have only worked here a year and a half.
I was trying not to but I was starting to cry (I’m just a crier) while I was explaining that I have trouble focusing in the office and don’t get any privacy since our desks are all close together. With no extra emotion she basically told me that was a bummer, and that I could go take a few minutes to get myself together since I was crying. And the rationale as to why I have to be full time now: so I have to be part of every conversation that happens within the office, that’s it. Even if it doesn’t involve me, I still have to be present. She also told me that wearing small headphones to listen to audiobooks while I work was inconvenient for the rest of the team, as they sometimes have to try and get my attention more than once to talk to me, which is only occasionally. The funny thing is that I just had my yearly performance review a week ago, and she said she was really happy with me and my work.
So this at its core is me complaining in order to give everyone a PSA that the boss you think genuinely cares about you, doesn’t. They will watch you cry as they take away the only thing you have asked for at this job, and then leave early to go work from home that same day.