Today I got word from the brand new CEO for my company that prides itself on being effective and and fair because they listen and function under the words and agreements of the “co-operative”, that we all have to return to the office no exception. It's blindsided many of us in the company including executive level leadership who had no warning and got the message from an email that arrived in everyone's mailbox at the same time.
I'm left equally distraught and infuriated, that the company who I've have built so much trust with, to levels where I felt confident to publicly announce I was transitioning (MTF) a mere 6 months after starting the job had stabbed me in the back so quickly.
I'm quite literally in a different state than my “reporting HQ” and after confirming with my manager I have been told that I too will have to start commuting to the office, despite having worked here for two years, getting hired with the full intent to be exclusively remote, and only stepping into the office collectively for 5 days, 2 of which weren't even during business hours.
It's a nightmare situation for me, as the drive and gas alone would force me to cut down normal necessities like food just to afford gas. I like many others live paycheck to paycheck but despite this I've been relatively happy because the benefits offered are going to allow me to finally get gender affirming care. Ironically, the day we're supposed to be back in is also the same day of my surgery followed up with me filing for disability for the next 2 ish months. Although I manage to delay that bullet I am now having to be stressed about that, which will likely delay the recovery process and I'll need to have a job lined up post recovery.
In all the rage and disappointment, I am heavily tempted to do one thing – tell the CEO, “I'd rather cut my own dick off than show up in the office.” Then show up after recovery and say, “Well?”