Back to office notice?

[Anonymous]

Does my employer need to give a certain amount of notice before calling us back to the office a certain number of days a week? We were doing WFH 3 days a week and now it's in the office 3 days a week with zero notice. I have kids at home for the summer. This is a small office not in the DMV area.

[Anonymous]

No, there are no laws about this

[Anonymous]

I don't think there's a law but a good way to get a slew of employees to leave is to demand everyone back to the office with zero notice.

But you're really just being told to come in one more day a week.

[Anonymous]

That is the reason why everyone is back to the office. Your kids at home is not a reason to work from home. Can’t you see that? Exactly the reason why this didn’t work out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is the reason why everyone is back to the office. Your kids at home is not a reason to work from home. Can’t you see that? Exactly the reason why this didn’t work out.

Ok, but that doesn’t address OP’s question.

[Anonymous]

I feel bad for single moms

[Anonymous]

No, we were called back to work in person with just a week’s warning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:That is the reason why everyone is back to the office. Your kids at home is not a reason to work from home. Can’t you see that? Exactly the reason why this didn’t work out.

No. If my workday is 7-3:30, and camp (my paid childcare) ends at 4, and I'm the parent who is supposed to pick up on Thursdays given carpool arrangements made weeks in advance, being 2 hours away without much notice is an issue. Being a working parent involves lots of planning ahead, even if your kids aren't home during your workday. Can't you see that?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is the reason why everyone is back to the office. Your kids at home is not a reason to work from home. Can’t you see that? Exactly the reason why this didn’t work out.

No. If my workday is 7-3:30, and camp (my paid childcare) ends at 4, and I'm the parent who is supposed to pick up on Thursdays given carpool arrangements made weeks in advance, being 2 hours away without much notice is an issue. Being a working parent involves lots of planning ahead, even if your kids aren't home during your workday. Can't you see that?

You're two hours away from your workplace? It seems you've dealt with this previously. You might need to bow out of carpool and pay for extended hours on that day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is the reason why everyone is back to the office. Your kids at home is not a reason to work from home. Can’t you see that? Exactly the reason why this didn’t work out.

No. If my workday is 7-3:30, and camp (my paid childcare) ends at 4, and I'm the parent who is supposed to pick up on Thursdays given carpool arrangements made weeks in advance, being 2 hours away without much notice is an issue. Being a working parent involves lots of planning ahead, even if your kids aren't home during your workday. Can't you see that?

The fact that you live 2 hours away is not your employer's concern. That was your choice. You now have to deal with figuring out the logistics. This is on you.

[Anonymous]

Need to? Legally I don’t think so. But most I’ve heard of give at least a few weeks notice if not more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That is the reason why everyone is back to the office. Your kids at home is not a reason to work from home. Can’t you see that? Exactly the reason why this didn’t work out.

No. If my workday is 7-3:30, and camp (my paid childcare) ends at 4, and I'm the parent who is supposed to pick up on Thursdays given carpool arrangements made weeks in advance, being 2 hours away without much notice is an issue. Being a working parent involves lots of planning ahead, even if your kids aren't home during your workday. Can't you see that?

The fact that you live 2 hours away is not your employer's concern. That was your choice. You now have to deal with figuring out the logistics. This is on you.

Sure it is. But this is a question of whether it's a good idea for employers to give advanced notice vs effective immediately. Yes, it is.

Also FWIW I lived where I live now when I was hired, don't get paid enough to move closer and wasn't offered relocation $, and stated pretty clearly in the job interview that more than 2 days a week in the office is a deal-breaker for me. My managers were like "oh yeah we're sure telework is here to stay!" They unfortunately aren't the decision makers for policy beyond our division, so if that changes, my choice will be to get another job. I'm already applying for some, just to be safe, as the winds are changing.

[Anonymous]

That sucks but not illegal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for single moms

Why? They should have child care when working from home already.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel bad for single moms

Why? They should have child care when working from home already.

NP. OMG you people are being so obtuse. People who are in a steady WFH arrangement do not have childcare to cover a commute to the office. I work 9-5 from home. I have childcare from 9-5. My office is 40 mins away. If I’m suddenly called back to the office with no notice, who the heck is going to care for my children from 8:20-9am and from 5-5:40pm?

OP, that really sucks and I’m sorry. Unfortunately, I think other posters are correct, and there are no laws about this, it’s completely at the will of your employer.

When companies do this with zero notice, I honestly think it’s a form of voluntary layoffs. They want less staff and they’re hoping some people will just quit.