If your AWS/telework was taken away from you, would you seek another job?

[Anonymous]

First of all, I just want to say that I know it's a luxury to be talking about looking for a new job...

Anyway, here's the gist: DH and I work for the federal govt downtown. We live in Springfield and our kids' daycare is in Burke. Unfortunately, our kids have long days in daycare due to the commute. I am able to work an AWS schedule AND do 3 days of telework a pay period. DH works a regular 8 hour/5 day a week job and is supposed to be able to telework 2 days a pay period. We were happy with this b/c it meant that our kids would have their "long" day 5 days out of the 10 day pay period.

However, DH's office just got a new director and he has indicated that if there's an event (a briefing at Brookings, etc.) that he wants staff to go to, he expects them to come on their telework day or move their AWS day (which doesn't affect DH since he doesn't do AWS). This wouldn't be that big of a deal except that DH's immediate boss has said in the past that if something causes you to not be able to telework on your chosen day, she will not let you move it to another day. So basically you wouldn't be able to replace your telework day for another day in the pay period.

We are upset because in DH's job, something coming up is a pretty fair chance and his job's flexibility is what is mostly keeping him there. It really is a big help knowing he's home 1 day a pay period and even if it seems like a small thing, takes a burden off our shoulders with our stressful commute. So, after this long-winded post, given our situation, if you were DH, would you seek another job that has more flexibility? Our kids are young, if that makes a difference (1 and 3).

[Anonymous]

OP again- I meant to add that DH isn't all that happy with his job but has stayed mainly because it has been so flexible.

[Anonymous]

What can it hurt to look? He could look and see what he can find, he might find a better fit and then again he might not. The job market is fierce right now -- there are still a lot of people who need jobs and employers have a big pool.

[Anonymous]

Honestly no. Teleworking and having AWS is a luxury. In the telework agreement (at least at my agency) it stipulates it can be changed or terminated at the supervisor's discretion. It sounds like it is a one off basis and hopefully it, in practice will not be that often. If it bothers him or you that much he could start the search and see what is out there. Just beware that the grass is always greener.

[Anonymous]

I work for a large .com and telework 20 hours of my 40 hour workweek. You bet I would leave if this was taken away from me! It's the only thing that is keeping me at a fairly boring director-level position.

[Anonymous]

It seems to me that the policies of the director and his boss create a problem that they should recognize and sort out. I imagine that DH is not the only one in the situation. I would see if the supervisor would relax his/her policy given the director's statement.

[Anonymous]

Seems like a stretch to leave just b/c he might have to come in - I telework, but have to go in all the time, depending on what is going on.

Can't hurt to look, but I think he's got to think of the bigger picture.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I agree that his boss and the office director would realize their policies create a problem and sort it out...DH is not so optimistic though.

There are a bunch of other issues that tempt DH to leave and I'm afraid this might be the last straw. I don't want to reveal his department but it's a place where one portion of it gets the lion's share of the work and attention and DH's agency gets ignored. Think of HHS- they do a lot of stuff (childcare, refugee resettlement, etc) but the only thing you ever hear about is medicare/medicaid. It's a similar situation for DH. He was offered another job within the department but in another agency and he turned it down b/c his boss said that while she might not be able to offer him much, she could at least offer him flexibility.

[Anonymous]

while the kids are young, i personally think flexibility is the single most important thing about a job. it sounds like decent work for decent pay. i wouldn't monkey with it until the little one is in pre-k or K.

[Anonymous]

Many places make you earn your flexibility, so it's very likely he wouldn't get that benefit right away somewhere new. In fact it could be less flexible because he is new and has not proven himself yet.

[Anonymous]

Every job has it perks and downsides. There is a new director and he/she is boss and your DH just lost one his perks. If he's unhappy he can leave but then in his new job there could be a change of personnel and he would lose this perk again. As a Director he/she gets to make these decisions and it is sheer elitist entitlement to think that because you and DH and, maybe, others are inconvenienced that he/she should make this a major consideration. The Director is the boss.

[Anonymous]

It seems absolutely crazy to consider leaving over this before you actually see the practical effect. If he wants to leave for other reasons, fine. And, if it turns out that he isn't getting the same flexibility, he might want to consider leaving. But, for now, you just sound very pessimistic and entitled.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Thanks for your comments; they've been eye-opening. I guess we both have become too used to my own federal agency where telework/AWS is practically a right. The first day you start in my office, they ask you which days you want to work from home and which work schedule you want- no one has to earn it. It's yours by virtue of your employment there. In fact, our union has just bargained up to 5 days a pay period of telework. I totally disagree with 16:02 that it is "sheer elitist entitlement" on DH's part- he is not asking the Director to change his policies. But anyway, it's good to know that other agencies are not as generous with their flexibility. He has applied for other jobs in the past that haven't necessarily offered alternate schedules but places where he thinks he would enjoy the work much more than he does now.

[Anonymous]

I work for the Federal Govt. and all eligible federal employees are allowed to telecommute up to two days per week. If you are eligible to telework at all, then you should be allowed to telework 4 days out of each pay period. The Congressional Representatives from Virgina are some of the strongest proponents of telework for federal employees. Your husband should call/write to your Representative to Congress about this. He would be very interested and likely willing to investigate. One of the most touted benefits is the reduction in air pollution and fuel use. Additionally, I know Feds who moved out of the DC Metro area for a spouse's job and are allowed to telework everyday and fly in to the office (on their opwn dime) once a month. If the job is miserable though he may just want to move on regardless.

[Anonymous]

Agree with 19:16. The Obama administration has directed agencies to bolster their teleworking plans and capabilities. The general trend in the federal government is to promote telework for the reasons mentioned in 19:16 plus it saves the government a lot of money in terms of building overhead (lights, computer, printer, etc). I'm sorry that your husband's new director lives with the attitude of the old era. Frankly, it is annoying to hear these types of archaic directives being passed around. Unless your job is such that you need to be physically present (doctor, air traffic controller, etc) teleworking should be promoted. Your husband may want to look into whitehouse.gov or omb.gov to report this as well.

Your husband should look into other options. I can tell you that there are way more supportive and flexible options out there in the federal govt.