My job is mostly great, it was hybrid when I started and I had to go into the office twice a week. Due to a reorg, I've been working from home fully for two months and I've loved it. We're going back to the old arrangement from September.
I (and some, but not all, colleagues) have pushed management to let us work from home full time but they absolutely are not budging. Their argument is that it helps us form bonds and communicate more. I'm really scared about this, it costs a lot for me to train in, the office is loud, bright and I lose an hour's sleep. The biggest issue I have is remaining constantly switched on and talking/smiling to colleagues for 10 hours a day.
Well, I was diagnosed with autism last year, almost out of the blue after an appointment with a psychiatrist. I mentioned it to colleagues and management, but haven't really done anything in terms of accommodations. They already let me do my thing and it just explained why I needed sunglasses and headphones in the office. I think I'm going to finally pull the disability card and ask to be an exception and work from home because of it. I'll go the proper route and get a letter from a consultant or something, to outline how being in the office makes me anxious, burnt out and less productive overall.
Going down this route makes me feel horrifically guilty because I know there are people on this sub that have to work retail or hospitality full time. They'd kill just for my current hybrid situation. I've been there, I used to work in a petrol station full time and it made me suicidal. It has taken me a long time to come to terms with this, but I have to recognise that I have a disability and that asking for extra is ok. I'd love for all of my colleagues (that want to) to be able to work from home, but for now I need to focus on myself.
I guess I'm posting this to seek validation, that it's ok to want to work from home and that it's ok to use autism as a reason.
Wish me luck!