The context: Our company moved to remote like many companies in 2020. In 2024 we got a new CEO who from the very first day would make quips about how much he liked seeing “so many people in the office” (for a party that they pay people to travel in for btw).

The moment I put in a request for a remote contract (under UK law this is something many workers do to resist RTO) the CTO rushes an announcement that we’re expected to do quarterly meetings in-office, including staff who live so far they commute by plane for social events, including for staff who are full time carers who NEED to be at home.

The whole process stinks of corruption, vile snake oil tactics, and coercion to make me negotiate myself into a shitty position. They Know they told remote staff their hybrid contract was to allow for occasional voluntary office working and the expectation was “never coming”, but when challenged they both played dumb (my manager was in my interview btw he knows the fucking score). They’re hoping people ignore the message and thus implicitly accept the change of conditions.

I’m just so fucking mentally exhausted already. I’m constantly on edge with every meeting, nitpicking every little comment in my mind worried that the company that I was happy working at for 3 years is turning into a toxic and competitive-ridden shithole over some ideologically-driven shareholder bullshit. I TOLD people this was coming and I was discarded. I TOLD people what would happen. I am spoken to like I’m a silly idealistic kid despite being near my 30s. I know how this shit works, fucking LISTEN to me.

I have a union, and my rep has been great (albeit busy because she’s a volunteer wobbly 🌐⚒️) but I hate how corporate snakes play themselves as pragmatic when they’re the ones who change the goalposts and decide you are the one not playing along. Fuck you. I did good work, I do good work. Let me get on in peace.