Honestly this is peak feels and vibes based management. Buncha dipshits throwing all the data out the window because they’re lonely and want someone to lord it over.
I’ve been WFH since 2019 and in the last 2 months they’re trying to get me back in. I’ve had 3 different calls about it, each time it’s escalated to a higher manager.
The calls basically go the same way each time, they’d like me back in the office, I ask if I’m not meeting targets and in told I am. Next I ask if there is anything I’m doing wrong, there isn’t. They go on to say it’s for team morale, cohesion etc and I ask if there has been an complaints and I’m told no, I say I’m having no problems with everybody I need to communicate with. Then I say I don’t understand why I can’t continue WFH if there isn’t a problem as I’m saving about 10-15k a year in fuel & childcare. Then they just say they’re happy to leave it like it is…
I haven’t looked into it too hard but as an Aussie I think it’s gonna be pretty hard for them to force me back in
Funny they actually admitted it, when they wanted to bring me back into office in mid 2020 they just lied and said everyone wanted to come back but me. A quick off the record chat with my coworkers said otherwise.
So this stuff is covered under Individual Flexibility Arrangements (IFA) in Australia. Providing childcare actually potentially protects you more under the law. It at least requires them to provide “reasonable business grounds” for requiring you to return, and your productivity being unaffected means that would be hard for them. As well, it puts you in a powerful position to negotiate from. If you feel like they aren’t going to back down, you’re probably better off not refusing entirely, as they can use that against you with FairWork if they can prove “reasonable business grounds”. Rather, next time they ask, counter by asking for a $20k raise so you can cover childcare & commuting costs. Or that you’ll only do a certain number of days each week/fortnight/month (plus costs). They’re asking to create a new IFA, and they can’t coerce you to sign it by law. They’re trying to put the pressure on because they want you to just agree to something that only benefits them. You have the right to negotiate, and FairWork won’t be happy with them if they fire you for asking.
Honestly this is peak feels and vibes based management. Buncha dipshits throwing all the data out the window because they’re lonely and want someone to lord it over.
I’ve been WFH since 2019 and in the last 2 months they’re trying to get me back in. I’ve had 3 different calls about it, each time it’s escalated to a higher manager.
The calls basically go the same way each time, they’d like me back in the office, I ask if I’m not meeting targets and in told I am. Next I ask if there is anything I’m doing wrong, there isn’t. They go on to say it’s for team morale, cohesion etc and I ask if there has been an complaints and I’m told no, I say I’m having no problems with everybody I need to communicate with. Then I say I don’t understand why I can’t continue WFH if there isn’t a problem as I’m saving about 10-15k a year in fuel & childcare. Then they just say they’re happy to leave it like it is…
I haven’t looked into it too hard but as an Aussie I think it’s gonna be pretty hard for them to force me back in
Funny they actually admitted it, when they wanted to bring me back into office in mid 2020 they just lied and said everyone wanted to come back but me. A quick off the record chat with my coworkers said otherwise.
So this stuff is covered under Individual Flexibility Arrangements (IFA) in Australia. Providing childcare actually potentially protects you more under the law. It at least requires them to provide “reasonable business grounds” for requiring you to return, and your productivity being unaffected means that would be hard for them. As well, it puts you in a powerful position to negotiate from. If you feel like they aren’t going to back down, you’re probably better off not refusing entirely, as they can use that against you with FairWork if they can prove “reasonable business grounds”. Rather, next time they ask, counter by asking for a $20k raise so you can cover childcare & commuting costs. Or that you’ll only do a certain number of days each week/fortnight/month (plus costs). They’re asking to create a new IFA, and they can’t coerce you to sign it by law. They’re trying to put the pressure on because they want you to just agree to something that only benefits them. You have the right to negotiate, and FairWork won’t be happy with them if they fire you for asking.