Finally approved for FT Work From Home

[LibrarIan]

I am a software developer at a large mega corp. Up until March 2020 I worked in an office like many other people. Office culture was such that working from home (WFH) was assumed to be not working at all. Even though the company had adequate network infrastructure, a reliable VPN, and my job could be done anywhere, I was rarely allowed WFH. In fact, I was questioned when I requested WFH for whatever reason and was treated as some kind of company liability.

Cue covid. We all moved remote. In the latter half of 2021 the company kept sending out updates about returning to the office. Covid kept changing form and kept delaying this return, but the company was adamant that everyone would return to the office.

I informed my boss I would not be returning to the office, whether it was because they granted me FT WFH or because I quit and worked at one of the many other IT jobs that were now remote. I also warned them they would have hiring problems if they insisted on in-office work exclusively.

They finally granted FT WFH just recently after 1) realizing many people would for sure quit if they didn't and 2) having many issues hiring new people because the potential hires lived in other places and didn't want to move to do a job they could do remotely. The only time I have been to the office since mid-March 2020 was to clean off my desk.

So now, like a lot of other people now, I enjoy no commute, no traffic, no parking pass/bus pass, no office drama, no downtown city issues, more flexible hours, more time with my son, a very quiet work atmosphere, the ability to wear whatever I want to work, and on and on.

When I worked in the office and had little or nothing to do, I had to look busy or else I would get in trouble for slacking off (even though they knew I was light on work). At home, whenever I'm light on work I go hang with my one-year-old son, do a house project, research investment properties, go for a walk, or whatever I feel like doing.

[oneday]

Congrats! It's wonderful, isn't it :)

Is it just for you, or company-wide?

[LibrarIan]

It applies to most of IT and some other roles in the company.

[Turtle]

Congratulations!  More time with family is bonus that's impossible to put a price tag on.

I was also approved to WFH full time, and it is a definite weight off the shoulders.  At this point it is unlikely I will ever work in an office again, as I expect to retire from this job within 5 years.

[MoneyTree]

Same here! I have enough to walk away, so the only reason I’m still working is because I’ve been converted to full time WFH.

Most of the worst parts of work are gone.

Although I do find it harder to stay motivated. I get the work done, but I just don’t find it in me to push it to that extra gear anymore.

[cool7hand]

Impressive. Most impressive.

[Dave1442397]

Congrats! I also got official WFH status this month.

Back in 2018, our idiot CEO decided that everyone would have to come into the office five days a week. People who lived in remote locations and had always worked remote were told that they would have 30 days to relocate or they would be fired. This initiative lasted roughly 8 months before they finally caved to the outrage of affected employees and decided that we could go back to doing what we had been doing before, which in my case meant going to the office once or twice a month.

Then COVID came, and we all stayed home for two years. In that time, most of our upper management changed, and our old office building was sold. Now that offices are opening again, they wanted people back at least three days a week, but our team managed to convince them that it was pointless, especially with our commute time to the new location.

A newer manager was pushing back, saying that only the two people who live more than 90 miles from the new office should be left remote, and the rest of us should come in at least one day a week. My commute would be at least an hour each way, probably a lot more than that with traffic snafus.

[shureShote]

Same here! I have enough to walk away, so the only reason I’m still working is because I’ve been converted to full time WFH.

Most of the worst parts of work are gone.

Although I do find it harder to stay motivated. I get the work done, but I just don’t find it in me to push it to that extra gear anymore.

I occasionally realize this also. I think in my case it is a combination of things for me that would not have been entirely different if I was still in the office (went home at start of covid, now officially a remote worker regardless of company direction.) Not impressed with the direction of the company and only planning on sticking around the workforce for a few more years. So I do my job and close the laptop each day and not let it bother me.