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Abstract

tm_medium=email&utm_campaign=community-missed-notification#community-like-_IUsOTLr4">Source</a></p></blockquote><p id="1bfd">So, what should Anonymous do? Clearly, they took this position under certain terms that have now changed. Now, there’s a commute and car or travel expenses to consider. Clothing, makeup, and other expenses to be office-ready. And the stress of working away from the comfort of home, which Anonymous has clearly demonstrated works well for them.</p><h2 id="49d3">Suck it Up</h2><p id="507a">Option one is the path of least resistance. Suck it up. Go with the flow. Show up to the office and work hard. If you choose this route, think of it in terms of the positives:</p><ul><li>You’ll have the face-to-face opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism.</li><li>You’ll have the chance to prove your relevance to the company by showing up and demonstrating excellent job performance and character.</li><li>You might get to buy some new clothes.</li></ul><h2 id="6770">Present Your Case</h2><p id="4b7f">If you simply loathe the idea of getting up, getting ready for work, and then making the trek to the office every day, then you need to plead your case. You’ll need to show them why working from home will save them money and increase your productivity. Plus, you’ll want to detail how this new policy will cost you money, which may need to be addressed in your salary.</p><p id="c404">Use data. Facts talk. Look for hard information you can use in your personal meeting with your boss, or in a detailed letter:</p><ol><li>Ask for a re-evaluation of your contract/position</li><li>Demonstrate, with factual data, your highlights, achievements, and accomplishments while working in your hybrid/remote position.</li><li>Detail how the new change will affect your wallet and your time. Numbers. Exactly how much gas will this cost you? Other travel expenses? Wardrobe and makeup? Time and other expenses like extended daycare.</li><li>Explain how your productivity working from home is much better and you feel you’d be a greater asset to the company’s bottom line if allowed more time to work from home. Ask for a day or more each week where you’d work from home, as a compromise. Or ask for a private office so you can have the mental headspace you need to work effectively.</li><li>Or simply let them know that working in the office 5 days a week is not what you signed up for. Be prepared to tender your resignation, professionally and confidently.</li></ol><p id="08ab">One other note here is that you may be able to get your doctors or mental health care specialists behind you and show that you require more home-work days to keep yourself healthy. Yes, this is a risk, but for some people, working from home is necessary to their mental and physical health. Perhaps you are at high-risk for Covid and your doctor doesn’t want you working in the office.</p><p id="e1ae">Perhaps you have ADHD or some other reason that working from home is best

Options

for you. Make sure that you highlight the benefits — how your work will be more efficient and cost-effective for them if you can work under the conditions that you know you need, one reason you chose this job in the first place.</p><figure id="9cad"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*Tdc0w8ROOtexV_Sf"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@thisisengineering?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">ThisisEngineering RAEng</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h2 id="b7ce">Consider Other Options</h2><p id="1c49">You may also choose to nod, smile, go to the office, and make the best of it until you’ve found a better work option for yourself. <a href="https://readmedium.com/5-tips-to-turn-your-linkedin-into-cash-flow-e895ccbf440a">Revamp your LinkedIn</a> and get yourself in the job-hunting game.</p><p id="fd67">This working opportunity may have been a great thing when you were first hired. You’ve learned, proven yourself, and advanced. But, has this opportunity run its course? Ask yourself the tough questions. Look at comparable job listings. Weigh your options and whatever you decide — stand confidently behind that decision. If you must part ways with your employer, be sure to ask for LinkedIn recommendations and part ways as amicably as possible. You may need their soaring reviews to impress a new employer.</p><figure id="7df1"><img src="https://cdn-images-1.readmedium.com/v2/resize:fit:800/0*kh5kwWQ8SuKLpY0M"><figcaption>Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@clemono?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Clem Onojeghuo</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com?utm_source=medium&utm_medium=referral">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h2 id="f4de">The Takeaway</h2><p id="9dfa">The takeaway here is that your work performance is heavily tied to your work-life balance; physically, financially, and for your own happiness and mental stability. You chose this type of work — remote work and hybrid work — for a reason, likely for many reasons. It was important to you then and it is to you now.</p><p id="7f7f">And you should fight for that. It’s time to put on your negotiating hat and remind this company why they hired you in the first place. Advocate for what you need. If you can’t find it with this company, set your sights on the next working opportunity!</p><p id="045e"><b><i>Meet your author:</i></b><i> Christina M. Ward is a lifelong beauty and wellness enthusiast with a professional writing career in the wellness, health, and clean beauty industries. Her work has been featured in Today’s Health Science, LA Weekly, Village Voice, and OK! Magazine.</i></p><p id="6972"><i>Christina’s published poetry books: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B081S8RRTC">Amazon</a>. Christina’s newsletter: <a href="https://christinaward.substack.com/">Fiddleheads & Floss Newsletter</a>.</i></p></article></body>

When Your Job Changes and No Longer Suits Your Needs

What if your job suddenly requires more of you in ways that make your work-life balance suffer? Should you quit?

If we learned anything at all during the pandemic, it’s that our social constructs for getting work done and making a living are more about work-life balance than we’d previously given credit. Many of us learned that remote work is perfect for us, allowing us the freedom to breathe and stretch into our working spaces with confidence. Others hated it.

But what if working remotely is wonderful, and you love it, then your job takes that away? What if those work-from-home days you love are suddenly in the rearview mirror? Do you try to adjust back to the on-location office life, or do you acknowledge your own needs and perhaps look for a new position?

Today, we’re discussing this topic because I ran across a heartfelt query on Fairygodboss’s website this morning and I wanted to further explore this for my readers. Because remote work, for many of us, isn’t just a blessing in disguise (gifted to us by the pandemic) but a pathway to greater productivity, a more pleasant work-life balance, and greater confidence — and we should fight for that.

Here’s the query that got my attention:

Posted by Anonymous

March 5,2023 at 12:14PM EST (Edited)

I have been working for a large corporation for the past two years.

I love the work, and I’m good at what I do. I am a young employee who has just been promoted to manager level and they are sending me to a corporate leadership training this summer (pretty competitive to get into, only 3 people chosen from the division). I have been working hybrid or remote for the entire time I’ve been employed here, and they announced two weeks ago that we are required to be in office 5 days a week. I live 40 minutes from the office and this is a really big deal for me. Flexibility was one of the most important perks of this position in my mind. Feeling upset, lost, and frustrated and unsure what to do. I’m trying to decide if I can get over this and keep working here, or if I should ask for more vacation days, or just keep my options open and start applying to other positions. — Source

So, what should Anonymous do? Clearly, they took this position under certain terms that have now changed. Now, there’s a commute and car or travel expenses to consider. Clothing, makeup, and other expenses to be office-ready. And the stress of working away from the comfort of home, which Anonymous has clearly demonstrated works well for them.

Suck it Up

Option one is the path of least resistance. Suck it up. Go with the flow. Show up to the office and work hard. If you choose this route, think of it in terms of the positives:

You’ll have the face-to-face opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism.
You’ll have the chance to prove your relevance to the company by showing up and demonstrating excellent job performance and character.
You might get to buy some new clothes.

Present Your Case

If you simply loathe the idea of getting up, getting ready for work, and then making the trek to the office every day, then you need to plead your case. You’ll need to show them why working from home will save them money and increase your productivity. Plus, you’ll want to detail how this new policy will cost you money, which may need to be addressed in your salary.

Use data. Facts talk. Look for hard information you can use in your personal meeting with your boss, or in a detailed letter:

Ask for a re-evaluation of your contract/position
Demonstrate, with factual data, your highlights, achievements, and accomplishments while working in your hybrid/remote position.
Detail how the new change will affect your wallet and your time. Numbers. Exactly how much gas will this cost you? Other travel expenses? Wardrobe and makeup? Time and other expenses like extended daycare.
Explain how your productivity working from home is much better and you feel you’d be a greater asset to the company’s bottom line if allowed more time to work from home. Ask for a day or more each week where you’d work from home, as a compromise. Or ask for a private office so you can have the mental headspace you need to work effectively.
Or simply let them know that working in the office 5 days a week is not what you signed up for. Be prepared to tender your resignation, professionally and confidently.

One other note here is that you may be able to get your doctors or mental health care specialists behind you and show that you require more home-work days to keep yourself healthy. Yes, this is a risk, but for some people, working from home is necessary to their mental and physical health. Perhaps you are at high-risk for Covid and your doctor doesn’t want you working in the office.

Perhaps you have ADHD or some other reason that working from home is best for you. Make sure that you highlight the benefits — how your work will be more efficient and cost-effective for them if you can work under the conditions that you know you need, one reason you chose this job in the first place.

Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash

Consider Other Options

You may also choose to nod, smile, go to the office, and make the best of it until you’ve found a better work option for yourself. Revamp your LinkedIn and get yourself in the job-hunting game.

This working opportunity may have been a great thing when you were first hired. You’ve learned, proven yourself, and advanced. But, has this opportunity run its course? Ask yourself the tough questions. Look at comparable job listings. Weigh your options and whatever you decide — stand confidently behind that decision. If you must part ways with your employer, be sure to ask for LinkedIn recommendations and part ways as amicably as possible. You may need their soaring reviews to impress a new employer.

The Takeaway

The takeaway here is that your work performance is heavily tied to your work-life balance; physically, financially, and for your own happiness and mental stability. You chose this type of work — remote work and hybrid work — for a reason, likely for many reasons. It was important to you then and it is to you now.

And you should fight for that. It’s time to put on your negotiating hat and remind this company why they hired you in the first place. Advocate for what you need. If you can’t find it with this company, set your sights on the next working opportunity!

Meet your author: Christina M. Ward is a lifelong beauty and wellness enthusiast with a professional writing career in the wellness, health, and clean beauty industries. Her work has been featured in Today’s Health Science, LA Weekly, Village Voice, and OK! Magazine.

Christina’s published poetry books: Amazon. Christina’s newsletter: Fiddleheads & Floss Newsletter.