SO many people are having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that the job market has tightened and they just don't have the same leverage they did a few years ago.

Enough managers across enough industries have come to the same conclusion after these years of experimentation. Telework only works at most one or two days a week.

As a manager, I would happily be more flexible about telework if the productivity was the same, if the corporate culture were unaffected, if I saw less experienced staff making themselves available for mentoring, if I didn't see constant personality conflicts that would be avoided if staff had more trust-building casual interactions in the office, if I weren't hearing about the staffer who was really skiing on the day that she insists she was getting that urgent project done, if deadlines weren't being missed.

After five years of riding to the rescue on projects, I have put more employees on performance plans and then deliberately let them fail (that is, not done their work for them) so that I can show them the door.

Covid is over. Get back to work. And I say this as a liberal, Trump-despising Democrat so don't chalk it up to politics.

Anonymous wrote:In the Federal government, they are making the 50+ miles away remote workers begin reporting to random offices near them.

This. Except my coworkers who showed up at the offices found wifi wasn't available! Now they work from home and none of us are mad about it, typically because they are working remotely because they followed their spouse who makes more money.

Anonymous wrote:The Finreg I am thinking of is guilty of this . The people who moved away during COVID don’t have to come back
Yes, very unfair but many things at this poorly run Finreg are unfair. Much has been written about the poor culture…

+10000

There are employers hiring employed finreg staff remotely. If you want the same deal as the other 50 mile group, find another job.

What happened is some people took a risk and they won. However, they also may not be in a location where it is easier to find a new job in the future.

Perhaps you should consider finding a new job and or relocating. Your anger might be driven by the fact you’re unhappy with your life choices and need to make changes. It’s not the telework inequalities, it’s that you’re stuck in DC at an agency with bad leadership. Don’t just assume you need to stay put and deal.

Life isn't fair. How did you get to be a working parent and not realize this already?

In the Federal government, they are making the 50+ miles away remote workers begin reporting to random offices near them.

The Finreg I am thinking of is guilty of this . The people who moved away during COVID don’t have to come back
Yes, very unfair but many things at this poorly run Finreg are unfair. Much has been written about the poor culture…

Anonymous wrote:The remotes will get laid off first

Evidence?

The remotes will get laid off first

5 day RTO means they want people to quit so I doubt you will have any luck getting them to change the policy until they have the attrition they want or conduct layoffs.

My guess is there is some unrelated policy somewhere else that made them draw a line at 50 miles.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see how this affects you. They are not taking anything away from you. You are free to move further away or look for another job. Why ruin a good thing for someone else? Wouldn’t you want others to do the same for you?

OP here - to address some of the above commenters, I am not wanting to punish those who are 50+ miles out. I am happy for them to telework! It just seems arbitrary as a policy and I want to be able to telework too. It is not fair that my coworker 60 miles away can hop over to their kid’s midday recital or avoid paying a dog walker or get 10 extra hours of personal time by avoiding a commute whereas I come into the office to do a job that can be done remotely.

I want advice on how to approach my boss about changing the policy. And yes, moving is on the table at this point. Or quitting.

You don’t change it. They don’t care. You find a new job!

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see how this affects you. They are not taking anything away from you. You are free to move further away or look for another job. Why ruin a good thing for someone else? Wouldn’t you want others to do the same for you?

OP here - to address some of the above commenters, I am not wanting to punish those who are 50+ miles out. I am happy for them to telework! It just seems arbitrary as a policy and I want to be able to telework too. It is not fair that my coworker 60 miles away can hop over to their kid’s midday recital or avoid paying a dog walker or get 10 extra hours of personal time by avoiding a commute whereas I come into the office to do a job that can be done remotely.

I want advice on how to approach my boss about changing the policy. And yes, moving is on the table at this point. Or quitting.