I work for a small office in administration, working Monday-Friday in the office, despite my job being done entirely in front of a computer screen. In March 2022, I accepted a job offer for a new position. The position was offering me a 35% increase in my salary, and confirmed flexibility to WFH 3-4 days a week.
When telling my current employer about this new offer, they counter-offered by matching the salary. I declined, explaining that if both positions are the same salary, I am still going to choose the position offering days working from home. My boss eventually came back to me with an additional 15% increase, and insisted that “working from home occasionally will not be an issue, as you know we have done it in the past and there were absolutely no problems”. (I had previously worked from home for very short periods of time when I was sick or a close contact to someone with COVID).
I excitedly agreed to stay in my current position, hands were shaken, all was good. About a week later I received my updated contract to sign. The contract was identical to my previous one (aside from the salary), meaning there was nothing specifically outlined about working from home. Truth be told, I was not particularly worried about outlining a specific routine with days from home – my commute to work is a fifteen-minute walk. Bringing up the ability to WFH in my negotiations with my boss was more about establishing that if something was to come up later down the track, it would be possible for me to work from home. I have continued to work in the office every day since signing the new contract in March.
Fast forward to today, when I decide I will surprise my partner on his birthday by working from home beside him today. I pull out my laptop, get my set up organised and ready, and call my boss to ask if I WFH today, back in the office as normal tomorrow. Again – the first time I have asked to do so since verbally agreeing that it “wouldn't be a problem” back in March.
What I receive on the other end of the phone call is total confusion – my boss firmly informs me that unless I'm sick, he expects to see me in the office. I can tell from his tone of voice that it isn't worth reminding him of what we had previously discussed, and my partner agrees that I shouldn't “rock the boat” by pushing back or pretending I'm sick. So here I am, as usual, at my desk.
All in all it is a pretty simple lesson to learn – I was naïve enough to think my boss would appreciate that I have continued to work 5 days a week in the office for the past 3 months without issue, and grant me this one singular day I request to work from home. Anytime you casually agree to a change in your work arrangements – please make sure you see it on paper, signed by yourself and your employer.