With the pandemic now past us and no longer a significant concern, companies and businesses are calling back their employees to continue working in their offices after years of remote work. Those who were initially offered to work remotely may be asked to stop and go to the office to continue work, and failure to do so may put their position at risk even if they do an exemplary job at what they were hired to do.

No matter what situation you are in, there are steps you can take so you can continue your current remote setup. Here are some of them below:

Check The Details Of The Job Offer

Before speaking to the employer regarding their request to move you to office work, take some time to recall your job interview. Ask yourself if you recall the name of the person who sent you the job offer and who promised you remote work. Then, check if these people are the same person who is now telling you to do office work.

If they are different, you should check the people who offered you the work and if they had the authority to make that offer to you then. You should also ask yourself if you indicated that you only accepted the job for remote work. If you have the documentation, make sure to have it ready.

Fight For Remote Work

If you do not have written proof that will show that going to office work was not part of your contract, you need to argue why it would be better for you to keep a remote setup.

When you argue for a remote setup, emphasise the benefits it can bring to the company, such as the reduction of office costs, an increase in the talent pool they can look into for their tasks and increased productivity. You can also mention that you find it easier to stay productive when you do your work remotely, and you can support the company in achieving its goal. If you think the employer will be reluctant to accept your argument, reassure them that you intend to keep working with them. You must also let them know you took the position due to your current work arrangements.

Ask For A Trial Period

If the employer resists your argument, seek a trial period, then get them to evaluate your work and agree to keep you in a remote working setup if you show better results in this setup compared to office work. If they agree, ensure you have written documentation so they won’t be able to withdraw from the agreement.

Ask the boss to see how productive you were in the office and compare it to your productivity while working at home. Make sure to document your progress so the employer can cross-check. If the company sees evidence that you are better in a remote working environment, they will honour your agreement. If not, you can consider other work opportunities.

Find Another Job

Last resort: if you did your best to negotiate, but your employer remains determined to get you to work in the office, you can stop there. You should now turn your attention to finding new opportunities elsewhere without letting your employer know. Fortunately, there are a lot of openings that offer remote work setups.

No matter your employer’s reason for ending remote work, it can be hard to deal with. However, don’t be immediately disheartened if you genuinely love the company because there are ways you can fight for a remote setup. If they accommodate your request, it shows they recognise your contribution to the company. If they don’t, there are other opportunities out there that can work with your preferred work setup.

For other tips on how to deal with your boss, check out these:
What Happens When There is No Leader in a Company
What Can You Do If You Are Fearful Of Retaliation At The Workplace
Why We Need More Awareness On Workspace Abuse

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