Can I request an office in a 100 percent WFJ job?

[Anonymous]

I am doing a 100 percent WFH job of an international company. I was on boarded months ago. I am vaccinated so is entire family (including kids).

I am getting depressed and less motivated each passing week and work hours keep getting longer and I am starting to get frustrated as everything is a hurdle.

The job has me locked in a room 10-11 hours a day. I see no sunlight. I am of no use to family.

My spouse suffers depression and anxiety so she has mood swings and hates having all of us around 24/7. For instance she was up yesterday so out of blue made a nice lunch for us. I had a meeting go long so upset and yelling at me. Stuff like this happens all week.

I am thinking of asking for a we works office. When I was working in office I was happier and more productive. My wife was happier as she has free space. I say. Back then I found out 90 percent of days her anxiety and Mania has her up at 5 am with blood pressure skyrocketing. She goes on this spree of baking, cleaning, out to yard and stuff till kids were on bus and I out to work. She would crash after we all left and calm down and nap and was fine later in day. Now she is 24/7 stressed.
I am in turn stressed. Work was my chance to go out in real world.

The job itself is nice enough. But why am I at home? The CEO is a billionaire I noticed he kept his corner office in pandemic. Turns out he has an apartment in the city walking distance to work and likes to separate and walk to work. Yet somehow to save cash he got rid of nearly all our leases to save money.

Is it crazy to ask them to pay for an office? I most likely will quit if I find an I person job. This is not working.

[Anonymous]

If they have leased office space, yes, ask.

If they don't and you want them to pay for a remote office ... Ask but be prepared to pay your own way.

Realize the issues you list are in your control (windowless room) or will persist in your personal like (conflict with spouse). You can address these if you want to.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you the only employee in the area? Or are there others nearby also WFH?

If there are others it's an easier ask - say you thrive by working near other employees working towards a common goal (your company).

If you are the only one nearby, then looking into coworking spaces. WeWork is the most well-known, but there are lots of other options. Price it out and make a proposal to your boss.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried therapy for your wife? Being manic until everyone leaves then crashing is not healthy. A We Work office doesn't fix that.

Just pay for it yourself for a little bit. See if it matters
Then ask for.it at performance review
Also how did CEO keep an office if leases were given back? And how could you know that if you Are all WFH?

[Anonymous]

OP we have five people who live in DC. At least three of us frustrated being home. One a 62 year old ego downsized to Small apt in DC before pandemic stuck who does not like this at all. Another a younger guy with live in girlfriend with a one bedroom. The two I spoke to said we can get all five on board we should get an office.

And no wife won’t see anyone. Although a GP, blood pressure guy has given her stuff. Her mother and father were sane. For instance her mother planning a bbq in June and she is already focused over top cleaning, menu who is coming, cost what will weather be. And this started in March!!

Me I grew up we get burgers and stuff often same day. Her mom is 80 and I know her 25 years and she is same way. We stayed over a few night 8 years ago as we had damage in our house.

I recall her yelling at my first me who was 10 she put the towel back folded wrong, was bed made right, she make dinner way earlier at 5 pm and upset if not ready to eat. It made it uncomfortable and I wanted to stay hotel but that also would insult her. So what happens it is best to stay away. I recall her Dad worked till 68 and when retired did nothing except in his workshop. Her sister for instance mows own lawn at 58 as her husband and sons refused to do it as she would follow them and criticize it.

I am fine. It is just you need space from OCD, anal retentive people. If they don’t get peace if is 24 stress.

It makes me wonder why companies felt it was ok to think everyone wants to work from home. I know a lot do. But a lot it is a bad situation.

My bet soon folks will be filing OSHA and HR complaints. I know if I was in office it be different

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried therapy for your wife? Being manic until everyone leaves then crashing is not healthy. A We Work office doesn't fix that.

Just pay for it yourself for a little bit. See if it matters
Then ask for.it at performance review
Also how did CEO keep an office if leases were given back? And how could you know that if you Are all WFH?

The CEO has a we work space where we still have a floor. We also have one now in London, NY, San Fran slowly CEO and CFO levels all renting office space. Whole floors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP we have five people who live in DC. At least three of us frustrated being home. One a 62 year old ego downsized to Small apt in DC before pandemic stuck who does not like this at all. Another a younger guy with live in girlfriend with a one bedroom. The two I spoke to said we can get all five on board we should get an office.

And no wife won’t see anyone. Although a GP, blood pressure guy has given her stuff. Her mother and father were sane. For instance her mother planning a bbq in June and she is already focused over top cleaning, menu who is coming, cost what will weather be. And this started in March!!

Me I grew up we get burgers and stuff often same day. Her mom is 80 and I know her 25 years and she is same way. We stayed over a few night 8 years ago as we had damage in our house.

I recall her yelling at my first me who was 10 she put the towel back folded wrong, was bed made right, she make dinner way earlier at 5 pm and upset if not ready to eat. It made it uncomfortable and I wanted to stay hotel but that also would insult her. So what happens it is best to stay away. I recall her Dad worked till 68 and when retired did nothing except in his workshop. Her sister for instance mows own lawn at 58 as her husband and sons refused to do it as she would follow them and criticize it.

I am fine. It is just you need space from OCD, anal retentive people. If they don’t get peace if is 24 stress.

It makes me wonder why companies felt it was ok to think everyone wants to work from home. I know a lot do. But a lot it is a bad situation.

My bet soon folks will be filing OSHA and HR complaints. I know if I was in office it be different

Do you think people will be filing complaints with OSHA and HR because they are working from home?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The CEO is a billionaire I noticed he kept his corner office in pandemic. Turns out he has an apartment in the city walking distance to work and likes to separate and walk to work. Yet somehow to save cash he got rid of nearly all our leases to save money.

This is hilarious - I'm sorry OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried therapy for your wife? Being manic until everyone leaves then crashing is not healthy. A We Work office doesn't fix that.

Just pay for it yourself for a little bit. See if it matters
Then ask for.it at performance review
Also how did CEO keep an office if leases were given back? And how could you know that if you Are all WFH?

The CEO has a we work space where we still have a floor. We also have one now in London, NY, San Fran slowly CEO and CFO levels all renting office space. Whole floors.

So - move into the WeWork space on your on, bump into the CEO at the water cooler and ask 6 months later if he could lease a small space for all of you. I mean...I think instead of having problems at home you're going to have problems at work if you try to force all 5 people into the office when its just your home life that sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The CEO is a billionaire I noticed he kept his corner office in pandemic. Turns out he has an apartment in the city walking distance to work and likes to separate and walk to work. Yet somehow to save cash he got rid of nearly all our leases to save money.

This is hilarious - I'm sorry OP.

He is a cheapskate. He even did a “shared sacrifice” during pandemic and ask folks to voluntarily take a pay cut. He then did some lay offs of folks who did not not take a pay cut.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried therapy for your wife? Being manic until everyone leaves then crashing is not healthy. A We Work office doesn't fix that.

Just pay for it yourself for a little bit. See if it matters
Then ask for.it at performance review
Also how did CEO keep an office if leases were given back? And how could you know that if you Are all WFH?

The CEO has a we work space where we still have a floor. We also have one now in London, NY, San Fran slowly CEO and CFO levels all renting office space. Whole floors.

So - move into the WeWork space on your on, bump into the CEO at the water cooler and ask 6 months later if he could lease a small space for all of you. I mean...I think instead of having problems at home you're going to have problems at work if you try to force all 5 people into the office when its just your home life that sucks.

We have no DC office. We want cubes at a we work. Even if we had 20 days a month the five of us could at least get one day a week each

[Anonymous]

Our international company follows the laws of the home country - every employee has to have access to natural sunlight. No employee would be allowed to work in a window-less space.

[Anonymous]

OP, you have a wife and window problem, not necessarily a work problem.

Your wife needs therapy and to get on meds. Going to the doctor and explaining what is happening would help her start on the process. It's not sustainable for her in the long run.

In the meantime, can you rent in an office space just for both of your sanities, if you can't work in a room with a window? Can you talk to HR and see if there is any leased space in DC? Of it's a European company, don't they usually have better benefits and employee programs than American companies?

And, finally, can you just search for another job at an American company which will make you go into work at sit at a cube for 8-10 hours, away from home?

[Anonymous]

OP thought your new job was amazing! This is obviously the same “worth it to work?” And “no one commented on my linked in post”guy. Anyway, you should be able to afford a we work space to try out for awhile.

[Anonymous]

I’m not sure you can ask for an office to accommodate your wife’s mental illness.