Struggling with Daycare and Return to Office: How Long Can I Request to Work from Home?

Hi, my company has suddenly announced a return to the office for three days a week. They have given very short notice and are pressuring us to come back to the office. Consequently, I won't be able to meet any of my clients or team members as we are located globally.

Challenges with Daycare Post-COVID

As we all know, many things have changed post-COVID, and one such area is daycare. I have two young kids, and I'm unable to leave them in daycare since there are no daycares operating all day due to insufficient enrollment to run them full-time. Additionally, my younger child frequently catches viruses. I have explained this in an email to my HR staffing, requesting approval for working from home.

Request for Extended Work-from-Home Duration

She has asked for my tentative date of return to the office. However, I truly require an extended duration as I am reluctant to leave my young children in daycare without a proper routine. What should I respond to my company regarding the tentative date? How many months can I request to work from home for these reasons? Kindly advise.

Thank you.

Dear Maya,

Whenever a company's administration makes a policy decision, it is done in the best interest of the company. While a decision may not always be suitable for a particular employee, the administration considers the larger interests of the company.

India experienced a third wave of COVID-19 in January. Even though the wave subsided quickly, companies continued to allow the option of working from home. If they now wish to transition to a hybrid model, there should be a valid reason for this change.

Why are you unable to attend the office in person? What arrangements are in place to care for your children while working from home? Can these arrangements not be continued while working from the office?

You can request to continue with the work-from-home arrangement citing family reasons. However, the administration may grant this concession for a limited period. What will happen when this period ends? How long do you intend to seek an extension for the work-from-home facility?

When requesting a concession, it is essential to provide a valid reason. Otherwise, your application may be rejected. I recommend finding a permanent solution to this challenge. Employees are expected to comply with the company's policies.

Therefore, I suggest reviewing your requirements once more.

Thanks,

Dinesh Divekar

The only person who can answer that question is your company. What does their WFH policy say? We don't work for your company, so we are unable to answer this question. This is something that you will have to negotiate with your boss. I suspect you will need a very strong argument to continue WFH, so make sure you develop a watertight case backed up with sufficient evidence.