remote working priviledges removed - forced to commute 7 hours per day

[cbg]

OH, I used to drive 60 miles each way too. 72 miles IS a long way for anyone who isn't a road warrior. Stop before you make yourself look like a total idiot, instead o mildly foolish.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Just pointing out she commuted prior to pregnancy leave and now she is suddenly trying to make it sound like an overbearing burden. Either she moved creating the situation when on temporary leave, or she was always making the commute. Either way it is not a new burden unemployment should consider when evaluating her making herself unemployed.

 

[goldenstreets]

Before I became pregnant the arrangement was work from home 2x a week. After I had my first child, my boss made the accommodation that I could work from home every day. I've been doing this for 10 years. I've had really bad joint issues that I could manage during this time but it has become a lot worse over the past year or two. Either way I was always able to manage it since I worked from home everyday. Now they are asking me to come in every day. The commute (the drive) is 72 miles but its thru the worst traffic (NYC) so its not a straight commute and will take a lot longer than normal if I do drive (and no, I am not a road warrior, I just learned to drive 5 years ago but have not driven a lot). I have gone to a couple of doctors who are trying to diagnose my problems but I felt no urgency from this because I was always able to work from home. Now they want people to come in immediately starting now. I'll see if I can get a workplace accommodation due to my medical issues but a 7 hour commute every day is just out of the question with my medical issues. I can do my job 100% effectively from home, and I even manage people who work outside of the country as well too but they are obviously not expected to come in every day.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

So your excuse for quitting is due to your medical condition which is not covered by unemployment.

 

[goldenstreets]

I can do my job despite my medical issues and have been doing it very effectively for 10 years working from home.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

I can do my job despite my medical issues and have been doing it very effectively for 10 years working from home.

But they want you to return to going to work. Perfectly within their rights applied across the board. They are not required to continue allowing you to work from home.

 

[justalayman]

Not that this means anything to your question but I'm curious;

You said you started working from home 9 or 10 years ago but only started driving 5 years ago. How did you make the 144 mile commute 3X weekly before you started working from home every day?

 

[goldenstreets]

I took the train in.

 

[cbg]

I'm on your side here but...can you take the train in now?

 

[goldenstreets]

Yep. That would be my option, 3 hours in, and about 4 hours back taking the train each day.

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

Nothing you did not already commit yourself to in the terms of your employment.

 

[mmmagique]

Nothing you did not already commit yourself to in the terms of your employment.

That's not the point. What she agreed to so many years ago has been changed to full time telecommute. That is what she has been doing. For them to now change it to coming in every day significantly changes the requirements, and she says she cannot do it.

 

[cbg]

But her circumstances are different now. That's what you're failing to take into consideration.

OH, maybe you should let me handle the employment law issues. You don't really do them very well.

 

[justalayman]

But her circumstances are different now. That's what you're failing to take into consideration.

OH, maybe you should let me handle the employment law issues. You don't really do them very well.

how are her circumstances different?

While I understand the argument in her favor I also see an argument that she had originally accepted the requirement to actually be physically present so arguing the commute is the problem is not a valid argument. She needs to stick to it being a change of circumstances that she is not willing to accept. If she uses the argument she can't commute then she is choosing to simply refuse to comply with the requirements of the job which is insubordination

 

[OHRoadwarrior]

But her circumstances are different now. That's what you're failing to take into consideration.

OH, maybe you should let me handle the employment law issues. You don't really do them very well.

They have not really changed. She was only given at home work due to pregnancy leave, Her problem appears to be more she has gotten accustomed to not having to commute and now does not want to, which is insubordination. The only change was the commute would be increased to 5 days instead of 3.