- Jurisdiction
- Texas
Hello
My employer recently implemented a radius rule for return to work - anyone within 50 miles of an office must go in to the office. This impacts only me in the entire organization of 60+ employees. 80% of the other employees were hired as office staff the other ~20% work remotely and are not within 50 miles of an office.
My previous employer was acquired by my current one about two years ago and I was remote at the time. There was no commitment I would never be required to come to an office but I made it very clear I have a spouse with a medical restriction from driving and who has various health issues that prevent her from managing our household alone if I'm gone 11 hours a day including drive time. I also have an autistic son who requires extra care and an elderly parent who lives with us who has dementia so requires additional care and oversight.
Despite knowing all that the employer will not make an accommodation for me to remain remote. There reason for requiring return to the office is that they moved offices so invested a lot of money in a new space so want people in it. That is not my opinion it's the response I received when asking "Why?". I do not have direct reports in the office I'm required to come to. My supervisor is fully remote with 5 subordinates who are a mi of remote and in office. There are other remote supervisors with both remote and in office staff in my office and the employer's second one in another State. There is nothing about my job that is better performed in an office - I've been doing it remotely for this employer for almost two years and the same role for two other companies for a combined 18 years. Again current employer states they just want to fill a building
I have rehashed with them what they already knew about my home situation and they are unmoved.
Aside from it being astonishingly insensitive do I have any recourse to defend remote work?
Thanks in advance.
My employer recently implemented a radius rule for return to work - anyone within 50 miles of an office must go in to the office. This impacts only me in the entire organization of 60+ employees. 80% of the other employees were hired as office staff the other ~20% work remotely and are not within 50 miles of an office.
My previous employer was acquired by my current one about two years ago and I was remote at the time. There was no commitment I would never be required to come to an office but I made it very clear I have a spouse with a medical restriction from driving and who has various health issues that prevent her from managing our household alone if I'm gone 11 hours a day including drive time. I also have an autistic son who requires extra care and an elderly parent who lives with us who has dementia so requires additional care and oversight.
Despite knowing all that the employer will not make an accommodation for me to remain remote. There reason for requiring return to the office is that they moved offices so invested a lot of money in a new space so want people in it. That is not my opinion it's the response I received when asking "Why?". I do not have direct reports in the office I'm required to come to. My supervisor is fully remote with 5 subordinates who are a mi of remote and in office. There are other remote supervisors with both remote and in office staff in my office and the employer's second one in another State. There is nothing about my job that is better performed in an office - I've been doing it remotely for this employer for almost two years and the same role for two other companies for a combined 18 years. Again current employer states they just want to fill a building
I have rehashed with them what they already knew about my home situation and they are unmoved.
Aside from it being astonishingly insensitive do I have any recourse to defend remote work?
Thanks in advance.
