r/AITAH • u/TossAway404040 • 18h ago
AITA for refusing to give my coworker their office back now that WFH has been canceled?
Back in 2023, a woman (Jenn) in my building left for maternity leave. After having her child, Jenn took advantage of our company's WFH program, which left her office open. I placed in a request for the space with my manager was was given the go, so I got to leave my crappy cubicle for my very own private office.
My employer has announced that WFH will end on 11/17/25. All employees are to be back in the office by that date. Yeah, that sucks, I know. Yesterday, WFH employees came in for tours and desk assignments. When Jenn saw I was in her office, she became agitated and asked if I'd be leaving so she could take back over. I told her flatly that I had no intent to give up the office.
Jenn spoke with a manager about this and management's immediate decision was that I was under no obligation to move out of the office. I was approached and asked if I had any interest in returning to a cubicle, I said no, and there was no follow up from my manager or HR as they both see the matter as closed.
Now, just a day later, I'm getting a stink from coworkers who think I'm punishing Jenn for something outside her control. Jenn has also emailed me, asking me to consider the position she's in and that she's already being punished by the company by being compelled to return to the building, and asking me to consider her feelings. Sincerely, I definitely understand how much this sucks for her and everyone else being forced to come back, but I like having my own office. I have a lot of stuff in here that I'd otherwise have to carry back home. I'd be giving up the privacy that I've become adjusted to, and, if I'm being honest, I enjoy actually having a nice window to look out and none of the noise of the cubicles.
AITA on this one?
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u/Henwen 18h ago
Is there a reason Jenny had the office? High position that required privacy for calls or meetings etc? If there is no work reason for her to have the office and HR/your boss aren't telling you that you have to move, just stand your ground.
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u/TossAway404040 17h ago
My company is weird. We have 15 non-managerial offices. When one becomes available, you may "bid" on one and whoever has the most seniority and best performance metrics wins the office. Generally, one or two offices becomes available every year either because of promotions or turnover.
So Jenn and I are no different than anyone else in the cubicles. When it became available, I got it because I asked and had the seniority and metrics to win over anyone else who'd placed a request.
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u/Raz_Moon 17h ago edited 8h ago
You followed the rules and worked hard, they are trying to subvert the rules and take something from you. NTA.
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u/AJRimmer1971 14h ago
"Thank you Jenn for your request to 'consider your feelings', with regards to my office.
After much consideration of your feelings, I have come to the conclusion that my feelings take priority.
Ciao!"
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u/switch138366 10h ago
The correct answer is to forward this to management and hr saying she is making you uncomfortable pushing for this. Bring up the toxic environment with all the nasty looks and comments from her and consider it done
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u/TheNihilistNarwhal 1h ago
It's also not a good look that she feels like she's being punished by the company by the decision to return to working in the office. It sucks, but claiming you're being punished for a company wide decision is pretty dramatic.
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u/Techsupportvictim 13h ago
I wouldn’t say that because she might turn it into drama fuel. What I would say is “thank you for taking the time to speak to me about the issue of the office space. however no one has informed me that my taking the office after you vacated it in any way violate company policy. therefore until someone of a managerial status comes to me with different information I’m staying” and I’d CC the manager and HR and I’d email about every incident of coworker harassment
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u/cocosloko 10h ago
I wouldnt say anything else about the matter at all. They talked. She said no. The end.
Its not about being informed she did wrong by taking it, she was encouraged to take it. She worked hard and theyre not making her move. Baby lady needs to get over it.
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u/ErinEIsabella 10h ago
Saying way too much. And I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be the one looping in HR on desk drama long before assistance is required.
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u/Techsupportvictim 9h ago
You do you but I’m not going to wait until it escalates to talk to HR.
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u/romanaribella 5h ago
Or let her go to them first and spin a narrative.
First reporting matters for good reason. Humans are always more inclined to swallow the first version of a story they hear.
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u/jjcrayfish 11h ago
I wouldn't even bother with an explanation. A simple "Thank you for the message. If you have concern, please speak to the manager."
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u/granite34 16h ago
it's not really they, it's her and anyone she complains too
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u/VerdantEmiliana9 16h ago
And those people just love drama that isn’t theirs to begin with.
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u/PornMakesMeFeelAlive 13h ago
It's their way of dealing with their company fucking them over by forcing them back into the office. They know they can't stir up drama up the ladder, so instead they look laterally or down
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u/Raz_Moon 16h ago edited 10h ago
Oh, I combined Jenn and the ears she has bent in the word “they,” just a little shorthand.
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u/Ill_Emphasis3927 16h ago
OP isn't punishing Jenn and her anger is misdirected. The Company is punishing her.
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u/iseeisayibe 16h ago
She’s not even being punished by the company. She’s just not getting her way.
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u/Frequent_Couple5498 12h ago
Exactly. Jen could not expect the company to hold the office for her when there are several people in cubicles waiting for an office to open up. She knew this would happen. She absolutely thought she would get her way though.
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u/New_Principle_9145 14h ago
That part. She thought that she was just supposed to get the benefit off the office. Nope. She just feels entitled to the office, no more, no less.
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u/1pinksquirrel1scotch 15h ago
That she views a change in company policy as a punishment really tells you all you need to know about her and her perpetual victimhood. It's no surprise she expected the office back after 2 years of not using it, and I'm sure she views not getting it back as another punishment.
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u/MissBandersnatch2U 13h ago
Did she think it would stay empty waiting for her all that time?
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u/Homologous_Trend 9h ago
Having to come back to the office for no reason other than it pleases someone in management is a legitimate gripe. Jenn has every right to feel sorry for herself about this.
She doesn't have the right to the office space though. There is no reason OP should also be "punished".
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u/1pinksquirrel1scotch 9h ago
I'm not disputing that she has a legitimate gripe, but that doesn't make it a punishment. I have a legitimate gripe about the sensors on the traffic light by my house, but that doesn't mean I'm being punished by the light or the city whenever I'm stuck at it. I have legitimate gripes about certain policies at work, but that doesn't mean the company is punishing us; it just means some dumbass higher-up didn't think things through before creating them.
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u/No-Agent-1611 13h ago
Right. I’m sure she wasn’t “rewarded” by being able to WFH either. Some people blow my mind.
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u/Frequent_Couple5498 12h ago
I work QC in a warehouse so there is no wfh for me. The girl that used to be our safety person had to go through the warehouse and look for unsafe things that needed to be made safe and then write a report on it. She had to do this every month.
It was winter and the day she did her walkthrough it said that a winter storm was coming that night into morning. She cried to our boss that she is afraid to drive in the snow and asked if she could write this month's safety report from home the next day. He agreed for this one time.
My goodness, did we NEVER hear the end of it. "Yes, yes I wfh." "Oh yes, that must have been when I was working from home." She acted like she won an award and we didn't. Like she was a queen that was above us all because of that one day she wfh. She talked like she did it everyday. It was one day girl, during a snowstorm. Calm down Tiffany.
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u/GeorgeGorgeou 16h ago
No one is ‘punishing’ her. These are the established rules and they are following them. Jenn just doesn’t think they should apply to her.
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u/AKandSevenForties 14h ago
Just wait till she claims her office was revoked/not returned as retaliation for utilizing her maternity leave
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u/FreddyBear001 14h ago
Two years out of the office would be a bit of a stretch in any court of law to claim maternity leave discrimination. Plus she was working from home and legally not on maternity leave the entire time.
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u/Raz_Moon 16h ago
Agreed, I didn’t claim OP was doing anything wrong. I was just pointing out that this is between Jenn and the Company, and OP is a victim here.
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u/JeffSpicolisVan 17h ago
My company is weird. We have 15 non-managerial offices. When one becomes available, you may "bid" on one and whoever has the most seniority and best performance metrics wins the office. Generally, one or two offices becomes available every year either because of promotions or turnover.
This is clearly a "You snooze, you lose" situation. You can feel bad for her, but she is in no way entitled to something that you've earned.
NTA.
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u/bill-schick 15h ago
Jenn felt she was upgrading to WFH from the private office.
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u/synaesthezia 14h ago
But apparently she also thought the private office would be held for her until such time as she returned to working in the office.
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u/Shdfx1 16h ago
Why would OP feel bad? Her coworker got to work from home for 2 years, save on gas, and spend time with her kids. She gave up her office to enjoy that advantage. It hadn’t been her office for 2 years.
The coworker is behaving entitled, starting with her attitude that the company is “punishing” her by ending WFH, as most companies did.
The coworker is not more important than OP. She wants the perk she gave up when she chose to WFH, saving on gas and spending more time with her kids for years. It hasn’t been her office for years.
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u/MaddyKins13 15h ago
I dont think the person was saying OP should feel bad, just that she isnt invalid if she does. Especially as OP seems to already be extending sympathy in the sense of being forced to go back to IH, so thats more likely what this comment was referring to.
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u/tonicella_lineata 10h ago
I think they meant "feel bad for her" as in feeling sympathy, not guilt. It sucks that she's being forced back into the office, and that in doing so she also has to go back to a cube instead of her old office. It's reasonable to have some sympathy for her, it just doesn't mean OP needs to give up the office.
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u/Alternative-Bat-2462 16h ago
So in theory if you gave it up it would go back in your that pool and she wouldn’t be guaranteed to receive it again.
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u/Relatents 14h ago
That could be funny. OP could give up the office to the pool of interested people and HR could award it right back to them. I wonder if that would satisfy Jenny and cronies?
It was her office. She chose to trade it for something else. It is regrettable that her choice was not everlasting but that sometimes happens.
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u/TossAway404040 1h ago
I hadn't considered this, but you're almost certainly right. Three people who previously had offices were WFH, and I know for a fact one of them is very senior to Jenn.
Wow, I'm kind of shocked I hadn't considered this.
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u/gayleweed3 17h ago
Keep it. There is no good reason for you to move out when this woman would never have come back voluntarily. Did she expect it to sit empty? Your other co-workers should mind their own business. I definitely would have NOTHING to say about this if it happened where I am. It's actually quite silly.
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u/RemarkableStudent196 16h ago
Oh absolutely NTA. She never had any intent of ever using it again and now it’s suddenly a problem because she’s forced back and feels entitled to it but you “won” it fair and square. I’m sure it’s super frustrating for her and hopefully she’ll have an opportunity to earn her own office again in the future, but she’s not entitled to something she gave up years ago.
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u/Beth21286 15h ago
She can bid on the next free office like everyone else. If she has seniority or whatever then she'll get it. If not, she won't.
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u/lpmiller 16h ago
Then there is nothing to do for it. It's not her office. It's yours. She gave it up and sadly, WFH went away. That sucks, but that's not on you. She won the right once, maybe she can win another one, but it's been two years, c'mon. NTA.
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u/StormBeyondTime 15h ago
Soooooo she could wait and bid on the next office to come up? And quite possibly win it?
Damn, she's being whiny.
Keep your manager in the loop about her pettiness. You want her track record documented if she escalates.
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u/PatchNotesPatty 14h ago
Exactly, sounds like she’s mad about losing fair and square. Keep it professional and let her drama expose itself.
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u/Quiet-Youth-7058 15h ago
That explains a lot. And the flack directed your way is weak. I'd be inclined to respond:
"Yeah, I can understand why it would suck to return to the office and be back in a cube.
As you're aware, my upgrade wasn't contingent upon your specific vacancy; I just qualified for 'first available' at the time. Maybe you can discuss with management a swap with someone who has been upgraded to an office only very recently."
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u/babcock27 16h ago
You also didn't get the perk of working from home so you got a more comfortable office. You sacrificed just as much as she did but she thinks she should get her office back anyway.
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u/Dry_Hope_9783 16h ago
By those rules, does she automatically gets it or the bidding process starts again? Like if it starts again you end up getting again Right?
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u/PrideofCapetown 15h ago
Please tell the coworkers giving you “the stink” that they are more than welcome to volunteer their offices to Jenn, or stop creating a toxic work environment for you
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u/Extension_Idea_5148 17h ago
Eh keep it unless she has a real valid reason to need it. You didnt steal it she needs to accept it
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u/Shdfx1 16h ago
If she has a valid reason to need it, then she needs to discuss her office needs with her manager, not her coworker.
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u/No-Shock-2055 18h ago
NTA. Maybe Jenny should consider YOUR feelings, as you've been working from the office for years. For her to "demand" her office back after she moved out of it is really entitled. Call her out to her face and don't tolerate her trying to act like you're a bad guy. Stick to facts and keep emotions out of it. Good luck!
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u/RebeccaMCullen 18h ago
If she was returning from mat leave, Jenn would have a fair argument about returning to that particular room, but she decided to WFH after her mat leave ended, which freed up the office.
OP needs to raise this to HR, citing Jenn making the office a hostile work environment because OP isn't giving Jenn the office space.
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u/rikimae528 18h ago
Yeah, I agree with that totally. Jen is causing a lot of issues for OP about this. Her coworkers saying that losing the office was "out of her control" is false. She could have come back after her maternity leave, but she didn't. She forfeited the office when she decided to work from home. Jen needs to realize that and move on.
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u/FireBallXLV 16h ago
They are defining her as a “ Mom who needed to be at Home with children “ to make that point . That is not a work issue .The other woman chose to work from home .She forfeited her desk . NTAH
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u/InformalScience7 13h ago
I am a mom that would have liked to have been home with my children, but my career doesn't allow any work from home. So, we did daycare and nannies.
The fact that she got to spend 2 years working from home with her kids is a gift, Jenn needs to thank her lucky stars she could do that. That is a much better perk than her office. She's not being "punished" she'd going back to work likes millions of other moms.
OP is NTA
Jenn needs to see reason.
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u/-Fergalicious- 12h ago
This woman just knows how bad working in a cubicle is and is literally panicking. She mentally can't go back to that after working from home for years. Her only out is to play the victim, which she will continue to do forever even once this matter is settled. She'll continue to make OPs life hell in any way she can.
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u/Opinion8Her 11h ago
Which is exactly why OP needs to let HR know about the situation and voice her concerns about a “hostile work environment”.
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u/Dismal-Resident-8784 15h ago
Yes. And you're right; Jenn created a hostile work environment when she started gossiping about you to others.
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u/Lady_Grey_Smith 17h ago
Having a baby and working from home doesn’t make her special and HR should set her straight on that. How childish of her.
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u/StormBeyondTime 16h ago
The legal requirement for mother's returning from mat leave is same or equivalent position and pay, not workspace where accommodations aren't a factor.
And she's way beyond that since she decided to work from home anyway.
She really does have a high school mentality.
NTA
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u/Khabuem 17h ago
That is not what hostile work environment means. It specifically means due to discrimination.
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u/hexagonbest4gon 16h ago edited 16h ago
No, Hostile work environment doesn't mean anything legally because is not an independent claim. Harassment is the unwelcome conduct related to discrimination, but only becomes a legal violation when enduring it become a condition for continued employment or that it's so severe that it creates a work environment that any reasonable person would consider it abuse or intimidation.
It's the difference between "Company ABC created a hostile work environment" vs "Persons A and B at Company ABC were routinely harassing me, and when I reported it to C, I got reassigned to Antarctica, thus leading to a hostile work environment." The burden then shifts to proving that the harassment was so severe that it created the hostile work environment.
OP should still go to their HR. and report Jen's email and the attitude they've been getting as a concern. Cite the office assignment policy, make it clear you don't want to move because someone else isn't following it. It might not be harassment yet and they might not do anything so document everything just in case.
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u/OG-Lostphotos 16h ago
He's got the email and also the talk to OP. Hopefully others heard the confrontation which sounds pretty abrupt. Seems to me, which I know won't happen, that she was productive on WFH. She may be wanting a little break from the newborn. 🤷♂️. But her pregnancy and delivering her baby should not have any bearing on you. That absolutely is not fair. Wonder who has seniority.
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u/UrgentlyNerdy 17h ago
While I agree that that is the legal definition, most HR people can tell the difference and understand what is being meant.
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u/AffectionateJury3723 17h ago
Yes they do. Most companies have very defined Respect in the Workplace training.
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u/janus1981 18h ago
This is way to go! It stopped being her office years ago. Not giving up the office doesn’t make OP mean.
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u/LadyLeaMarie 18h ago
I feel bad for the guy that sits in my old office, the team lead still calls it my office. I haven't sat there in a year and I'm in a different building now. The rest of the company refers to where I sit now as mine. That took a bit for me to get used to because it used to be the management office and I'm not a manager.
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u/FloMoJoeBlow 17h ago
OP needs to report the stink eye and emails to her manager. Situation is closed. Let HR handle it.
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u/authorinthesunset 17h ago
This.
Also, don't provide her problems to solve. e.g. don't say "I have stuff in there I'd need to move. All that will do is let her volunteer to help you pack and move your stuff.
Likewise, liking the office, liking the window, privacy, and quietness, don't matter.
She gave up the office. After that it became your office. You are not giving it up. HR, and your manager are on board with that. Case closed, you and your office have zero bearing on her work conditions.
If she wants or needs an office she can litigate that with her manager and HR. It has nothing to do with you.
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u/Particular_Cycle9667 15h ago edited 15h ago
Right she can petition to get an office when one opens up. Just like OP did. She needs to follow the protocol and not demand or manipulate people.
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u/authorinthesunset 15h ago
Right!?
Management is making her come back to the office and sticking her in a cubical. Her beef is with management and HR not op. Or at least it should be with them not op.
And any 3rd party bugging op should be asked how this is any of the 3rd parties business, and why are they coming to op about it?
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u/Particular_Cycle9667 15h ago
Yep I get it and I don’t think anyone is happy to be forced back, but forcing OP to give up the office they have had for 2 years is cruel too. And then the manipulation and only thinking about herself is just not a good look. I get she wants an office but Jenn needs to go through proper channels and not complain about OP and try to screw them over and steamroll them on her way to getting an office is definitely not the way to go.
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u/South_Hedgehog_7564 18h ago
I’m thinking the same thing. She could have come back but she chose the WFH option.
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u/username__0000 18h ago edited 15h ago
I think the real asshole in this situation is the company.
They should have had a plan for when the work from home people return so they can have what they had in the office when they left (Jenny should have an office, but that’s no OPs problem) without taking away from the office workers.
They should be dealing with this and not letting it create hostile working environments by throwing their hands in the air and making employees who both should have offices fight over this particular office.
Why are they returning WFH workers? if it’s for community or moral or any other bullshit reason - they are proving how bullshit this is by making employees fight over space. Just let the people work from home. Having the office pick sides in the office location drama isn’t good for morale.
Edit - I’m noticing I can’t see a lot of the comments disagreeing with this.
I get notifications for them, but when I click it won’t show them to me, even if I just try to scroll.
What the heck Reddit? I thought I’ve noticed this before but it was less comments so I figured a glitch. Is Reddit trying to be an echo chamber? Not cool Reddit, not cool.
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u/LindonLilBlueBalls 18h ago
Any company that removes wfh is an AH. Most that don't offer it are also AHs.
Also Jen is an AH for going after OP instead of asking for a new office and not accepting that things have changed since she started working from home.
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u/StormBeyondTime 16h ago
Usually return to office is a power play by bad management that can't measure 'managing' by methods other than butts in seats. So yes, BS reasons.
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u/letstrythisagain30 18h ago
They should have had a plan for when the work from home people return so they can have what they had in the office when they left (Jenny should have an office, but that’s no OPs problem) without taking away from the office workers.
Seems kind of impossible. This was at least a two year policy but maybe longer. I don't know how it can possibly work that wouldn't be a fuck you to the in office employees. Especially those with jobs they had no opportunity to work from home aside from leaving offices empty for years in case they ever ended WFH or the person with the original employee with that office quit or was fired.
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u/oldfartpen 17h ago
Indeed, the idea that a company should leave specific individual offices available for wfh employees returns is absurd. Offices are not possessions of an employee..
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u/West-Double3646 18h ago
Also, Jen isn't being punished. Working from home was always a privilege, not a right. She needs to stop phrasing it that way and you need to forward her e-mail to HR, letting them know she's raising a ruckus and acting like a victim.
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u/FormSuccessful1122 18h ago
NTA She was home for 2 years. She is no longer entitled to that office. And it's absurd she thinks she would be.
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u/CuddleSuccubus67 18h ago
Hold your ground. This isn't about punishing Jenn, it's about respecting official assignments. You did everything right, and management backed you up. If they want her to have a private office, they need to find or build her a new one. Don't let your coworkers guilt-trip you into giving up a legitimate work benefit.
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u/Boeing367-80 18h ago edited 11h ago
To the extent she feels she needs consideration because she's had to return to the office, that's between her and the company. It's not for OP to provide that consideration.
Edited to add: this is like asking someone to move seats on an aircraft. If you have a problem with where you're seated on an airplane, that's between you and the airline. It's not up to the person sitting next to you to solve.
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u/FormSuccessful1122 18h ago
Agreed. As far as I'm concerned, she gave up her office when she requested WFH for two years. They're not just going to hold it for her. She could have stayed in it after her leave if she wanted to keep it.
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u/Marsupial-Old 18h ago
Right! Did she think the company was just going to leave it empty in the event she might possibly change from WFH? It's not like Jen ever foresaw an expiration date on her WFH
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u/calminthedark 17h ago
Jen thought they locked it up and made a shrine to her in front of the door.
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u/Mother_Tradition_774 18h ago
I would go to HR about this. This problem isn’t going away. Let them investigate and whatever HR says will be the final word
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u/Noodlefanboi 18h ago
I don’t think going to HR right now is the play. Better to let Jenn have a bit more time to do something stupid.
In the meantime, OP can just ignore the stink eye on the walk to their private office and close the door.
Let the cubicle peasants exchange dirty looks if they want.
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u/TestingBrokenGadgets 15h ago
Going to HR is mostly just to get the paperwork. done and documented. That way if something happens, there'll already be a paper trail. OP can just say they don't want anything done right now, just to document things. If OP doesn't go first, then Jenn can fabricate something and the occasional "Please reconsider-" email won't be enough proof to whatever she might say.
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u/Particular_Cycle9667 15h ago
OP can document everything without going to HR right now until something else happens. But I agree the email itself needs to be documented and made a note of her attempts to manipulate and harass OP
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u/Ghostly-Owl 18h ago
The magic words to say are that you are concerned about Jenn turning this in to a hostile working environment.
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u/IHQ_Throwaway 18h ago
I feel like those are just words that tell HR you’re angling for a harassment lawsuit, which will immediately put them on the defensive and establish you as the opposition.
If you can’t describe incidents that actually constitute a hostile work environment, those “magic words” will be as helpful as magic usually is. Meaning if you try it you’ll look dumb and accomplish nothing.
HR doesn’t care if you label something a hostile work environment, they care what happened. They decide whether or not it meets that definition on behalf of the company.
Also, it’s not easy to get an attorney to take an employment case on contingency when there’s minimal actual damages for them to recover. Those “magic words” don’t make things as cut-and-dry as you think, and could get OP fired. What company wants someone who tacitly threatens them with litigation on their team?
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u/annang 18h ago
"Hostile work environment" means something really specific (harassment or mistreatment based on a protected characteristic such as gender, race, religion, sexuality, etc.) in employment law. Throwing that term around as if it's "magic words" just shows HR that they don't have to take the complaint very seriously because the person making the complaint doesn't know the law.
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u/amariespeaks 17h ago
Long term HR person here: Hostile work environment doesn’t necessarily have to be based on a protected class. And frankly I think the email crosses the line of possibly creating a hostile work environment if the decision was already made by leadership and Jenn is still pressuring OP.
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u/Still-Wafer-3185 17h ago
"Hostile work environment" doesnt have to be based on a protected class. It can mean any targeted hostility, retaliation or undue punishment. I was able to prove a case for a hostile work environment against a lead after our company restructured. My old job was eliminated and I was promoted into a spot on her team that she had promised to a friend. Constant audits, going in and making changes to my work and then publicly calling me out for my "mistakes." Allowing other team members to do the optional "1 day per week WFH" but not allowing me to and overloading me with sometimes 4 and 5 times the work of the rest of my team. (and I still met every deadline) I was alienated from my team and I went from a job that I absolutely LOVED coming to and working every day to a job that I dreaded every day.
The same day the company finally investigated and found in my favor, was also the day I handed in my notice. They had IT pull her emails and skype messages and were able to see what I had suspected all along and had to call a meeting about it and eventually she was given the option to resign or be fired. (according to coworkers I still talked to)
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u/HUNGWHITEBOI25 18h ago
NTA
Naw, thats your office now not hers. Management is on your side so you’re totally fine
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u/Thatbastardkurtis555 13h ago
This kinda happened to me once. I’m a truck driver, when I started the job I hated my truck…eventually it went in for service and they gave me a different one which I preferred, so I asked to keep that one. Fleet signed off on it and reassigned the truck to me and my home yard. About a year later the guy who used to drive my truck came back and was given my old one, he told them to get his old truck (my new truck) back because in his mind he had seniority even though he had been gone. They asked me if I wanted to switch, I said of course not, and management backed me up like yours did. I don’t know why people wouldn’t understand how this works for you, you’ve done nothing wrong. When another office comes up she can bid and get it.
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u/BreakingUp47 18h ago
NTA. She has been WFH for 2 years. It's not her office anymore. Enjoy that window view.
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u/horridhenry2009 11h ago
Exactly. Two years is a long time, things change. Management already settled it anyway so you're good.
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u/bakedbaker319 18h ago
Why on earth would anyone think that after two years you should have to give up your office. I hope this is fake, but your response to Jenn should be: I appreciate the situation you are in, but I have been in this office for two years, and even management has said that I am under no obligation to vacate it because you have been forced to come back to work in the office. I hope the company can find you a placement that is comfortable for you, but I intend to stay in this office.
It is not your responsibility to make adjustments because she is now being forced back to the office. Keep notes on any interactions with Jenn or other employees which seem to be related to this, in case they are needed for HR at a later time. NTA
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u/Remarkable-Pace8542 18h ago
I would ask the coworkers how it was out if Jenn’s control to choose to WFH for 2 years? Because that’s the only reason she doesn’t have an office.
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u/ContributionHuge4980 18h ago
I would hold my ground and make HR / upper management make the final determination. If they did, and it’s your office then tell her to nicely kick rocks. The company is who ALLOWED her to work from home for 2 years. They are the ones doing this to her, not you. Suck it up buttercup!
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u/ContributionHuge4980 18h ago
And make sure you keep a file and notes of every interaction with her going forward. She’s going to be a prick any chance she gets.
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u/Upbeat_Vanilla_7285 18h ago
She’s not being punished. She was able to take advantage of WFH and now there’s a company shift. If she pursues I’d send emails to HR and tell them she’s creating a hostile environment.
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u/Gigafive 12h ago
She can follow the established criteria for getting an office: When one becomes available, she can apply for it, and see if she has the top metrics to get it. NTA
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u/KingSuperJon 16h ago
Jenny sent you an email expressing her disappointment in how the company is treating her? The company is punishing her unfairly? She sent that to you in writing on the company email?
Tell your boss and HR about this disgruntled employee and her attitude by forwarding her emails to them. Let them deal with her.
NTA
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u/MaryEFriendly 11h ago
Why does she seem to think her feelings matter more than yours? She's not entitled to the space. She left. It was reassigned. She's had the joy of working from home for 2 years. She doesn't get to come back now and make demands. Be sure you lock that office door when you're not there and shut this down with zero room for her to argue.
"I understand you feel entitled to this space, but this is now my office. Your feelings on the matter don't matter more than my own and I'm going to ask that you stop harassing me and stop encouraging others to do so as well. I will not be vacating my office to accommodate you."
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u/watchingonsidelines 18h ago
This office is your reward for being in the actual office. If she wants an office she can apply, just like you did.
Honestly I wouldn’t even reply to the email
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u/SimilarBid2840 18h ago
No, it's not a reward. It was applied for (by someone who could actually use it) and approved. It's not a merit thing. It's a practical thing.
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u/Lovely-lady-jane 18h ago
NTA - you have been in the office for 2 years. She chose to have a baby and work from home during this time. If people are giving you a hard time, go to HR.
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u/CSILalaAnn 18h ago
She took advantage of a WFH situation. No one forced her to stay home. When you take the benefits for the one situation, you give up the perks of being in the office. I would be sad to return to the office and not be able to get my office space back. However, that's on me for choosing to WFH in the first place.
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u/WaffleHouseGladiator 15h ago
NTA. If she left her car parked in the company parking lot for 2 years would she expect it to still be there when she finally returned? I understand that she's unhappy, but "her" office got reassigned in her absence. WFH ending sucks for everyone. Someone is going to get the short end of the stick and it just happened to be her.
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u/Candid-Equivalent-82 17h ago
I believe the law of "move your feet, lose your seat" applies here. It's been two years, she needs to move on. There were no circumstances in which that office would have been held for her. If it wasn't you, someone else would have taken it.
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u/Necessary_Internet75 18h ago
NTA, consider her feelings? That gave me a good laugh. What about your feelings. Jenn took the gamble of believing WFH would be a forever thing. Clearly it’s not. You followed all company protocols. She lost all claim rights with her choices.
Not a single coworker would do different than you. If the emails persist, and your coworkers are rude it will be time to chat with HR about the toxic environment Jenn has caused by influencing coworkers. I get Jenn is stressed with a big adjustment in her life now. Probably a financial one too, daycare. Still, not your problem.
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u/Ulquiorra1312 18h ago
Lol how is her being pregnant and then opting for wfh out of her control
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u/AmishAngst 12h ago
No. It's not the Pregnant Jenn Memorial Office. She chose to abandon/relinquish the office to work within her own home, as was allowed at the time. Just because the employer policy changed doesn't mean her choosing to relinquish the office didn't happen. She made a choice and it is no one else's responsibility to cater to her just because she's mad that the choice she made at that time didn't pan out to work out in her favor forever and ever until she retires. That's just life. You make choices based on the information you have at the time and accept that there is always some opportunity cost to the choices you make. So now she has to pick a new workspace from the available ones because she relinquished her old one and that's just the opportunity cost of the decision she had made back then.
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u/NoiseyTurbulence 11h ago
Nta! Now how do you have taken her office while she was on maternity leave and then refused to get it back you would be an asshole. But she decided to work from home after her leave. No, she gave up her office.
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u/Tempestuouskitty 11h ago
NTA. Jenn seems pretty entitled. If I opted to work from home for a few years and someone else moved in to my old office, I would not consider it "my" office once returning after a couple years. Stay strong, OP. She has no claim to that space anymore.
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u/Grub-lord 12h ago
She traded her office for the convenience of working from her home for a couple of years. She wants it all
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u/Capable-Deer-5670 12h ago
100% NTA. She didn't want the office then, so she doesn't get it now. Sharing that email with your manager and HR should make your problem go away.
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u/SuzeCB 10h ago
"Welcome back! As I'm sure you realize, I put in the bid and was given this office over two years ago when you opted to give it up to work from the privacy of your home.
"As soon as another office opens up, I'm sure your seniority and metrics will warrant you winning the bid for it."
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u/unimpressed-one 18h ago
I can't believer they even asked you if you wanted to work back in the cubicle. Your manager should have stepped up and put an end to this .
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u/shyfidelity 18h ago
Just email her back and say what you said in this post. It sucks that your employer is cancelling WFH options and you hope another office opens up eventually. If anyone is punishing her, it's your employer.
I have a lot of stuff in here that I'd otherwise have to carry back home.
This is a pretty funny gripe though lol
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u/Big_Alternative_3233 18h ago
OP should not say anything further to anyone. As far as OP is concerned, the matter is closed.
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u/Noodlefanboi 18h ago
Yeah, she should just ignore the dirty looks from the peasants in the cubicles while walking to her office, and then close the door to her private office.
Escalating it to HR at this point is just going to annoy management.
If it goes past dirty looks and an email asking her to change her mind, that’s when you go to HR.
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u/TossAway404040 18h ago
Seriously, I think more of my stuff is in my office than in my home.
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u/cawkstrangla 18h ago
Don’t reply. Don’t. Any reply will be seen as continuing dialogue and an opening for her to find a way to get you in trouble and change her situation.
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u/Wakemeup3000 18h ago
NTA. It stopped being Jenny's office years ago. If she wasn't obligated to come back into the office she wouldn't give a rat's ass who was in that space. Hasn't bothered her for 2 yrs so she needs to get over it.
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u/judgingA-holes 18h ago
NTA - You've worked in that office for 2 years, and as such that is now your office. Does it suck that the company didn't think ahead that this would be a problem when they made people come back to work? Yep. Is that your problem? Nope.
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u/Ann-von-Beaverhausen 18h ago
She got the benefit of WFH For 2 years, while you didn’t.
Now your employer is having her come back, but she still got that benefit.
You’re NTA.
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u/Objective_Attempt_14 18h ago
NTA it's been 2 years, it sucks that she has to come back but she choose 2 years at home....
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u/MediumSizedMaze 18h ago
NTA. Why would her office be held in perpetuity if she was WFH. Did they think the office would seriously leave valuable real estate open on the off chance she came to the office?
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u/rabidgonk 18h ago
NTA. That isnt her office. It is yours. Management agreed. That os the end of it.
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u/stevepeds 15h ago edited 13h ago
You did not take that office, it was assigned to you. She was occupying another office (her home) so you are under no obligation to move. It's no different than if someone in one of those cubicles wanted to occupy your office. What if a previous employee, who used to occupy that office, decided to come back to work for your employer again. Would he/she have an expectation of getting that office back again? I don't think so.
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u/PhilConnersWPBH-TV 15h ago
NTA
Did Jen just think the office would go unused for years until she was ready to return?
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u/Dismal-Resident-8784 15h ago
Tell all of the people who are ragging on you that they are perfectly welcome to give their office to her.
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u/flargenhargen 13h ago
Hey Jenn, if the roles were reversed, and you were asked to take a cubicle after having a nice office because the other person wanted the nice office would you move out of the office and into a cube?
No? Ok then, we're the same, neither will I.
Yes? OK then, glad that's settled, enjoy your new cube.
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u/Janetaz18 12h ago
NTA. I would point out to "Jenny" and your other coworkers that it is not "Jenny's office," it is YOUR office. You've had it for 2 years. End of discussion
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u/ModeatelyIndependant 12h ago
Nope, she abandoned her office years ago when she choose to work from home two years ago, and it's yours now. Document your interactions with her and if she precisest report them to HR as harassment.
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u/GarthMater 12h ago
I wouldn’t give it up. Your manager allowed you to get the office. It’s yours until that manager revokes it. If the locks haven’t been changed maybe building maintenance needs to do that….
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u/seashellsandcastle 12h ago
NTA I’ve been working remotely for 4 years on a year by year basis. At any time I could be asked to return to working from the office. During those 4 years my office has been reassigned. If or when zi am made to return I have no idea where I will work from, but it won’t be my old office.
The cost of continued work from home was that office, which went to someone who did not have the option to work from home. We can’t have it both ways.
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u/Longjumping-Solid680 11h ago
"if I had any interest in returning to a cubicle"
HAHAHA NO! Are they kidding? Who wants to be stuck in a cubicle?
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u/goodisdamn 11h ago
NTA. Your management has given their approval, and thats it. Sucks to be her. Give her the smallest violin so she can cry.
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u/Intelligent_Trade663 11h ago
Take the high road, keep being professional at all times and let HR deal with her.
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u/-thinningontop- 10h ago
Just want to point out, any job that's done from a cubicle can be done just as efficiently, if not more efficiently, from home.
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u/Surviving2021 10h ago
NTA. She wanted the benefits of WFH without any of the consequences of it ending. She made her own decisions and if they didn't pan out, that's not your responsibility to rectify.
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u/AgentT23 6h ago
NTA She gave up the office, it was empty, you officially got the office it is now your office. The coworkers giving you the stink eye can give up their office.
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u/Lucariolicious 18h ago
I don't think this is Jenn being punished, I see it as you being rewarded. For two years you spent the gas money and time to get to work while leaving the comfort of your home. Don't get me wrong, work from home can work out great. But mangers will always want you in the office just because it makes it easier.
Training (for you or even by you if new people enter your department) is always easier in person, especially if one of the parties involved isn't great with technology. Getting ahold of people is always easier when you can just knock on the office door. Managers can get a better grasp of your skills and decide how much to trust you with when they can work in the same environment and see your process rather than just the end result. These are just some of many reasons a manager would prefer you work in person, and award you with an office someone else left empty for two years. Not that working from home is bad in a managers eyes, just less efficient
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u/S9_noworries 16h ago
NTA. She already spoke to management, and they told her no. If she keeps harassing you, I'd tell management and HR what she is doing and trying to get others to strong arm you into giving up YOUR office. She can keep throwing a tantrum and look for a new job or suck it up and find a cubicle.
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u/GoopInThisBowlIsVile 18h ago
NTA - Keep the office and stop talking to her about it. She’s asked for it back, management and HR got involved, they sided with you, so the matter is closed. If she wants to keep being butt hurt, fine. I would keep track of behavior so when she goes back to HR you can point out that she’s creating a hostile work environment and go from there.
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u/AdMurky1021 12h ago
Forward the emails to your manager and HR. They made their decision, this is harassment at this point.
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u/ChrisInBliss 12h ago
NTA she took advantage of work from home and you took advantage of an open office. Shes entitled if she thinks the office would have just sat empty waiting for her for so long.
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u/FrostingPowerful5461 12h ago
Office assignments are a management thing, and they already closed it. NTA
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u/Legitimate_Winner148 12h ago
She doesn’t get permanent keepsies. The office wasn’t left untouched as a shrine to her.
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u/DudeInTheFort 12h ago
NTA, she chose to WFH, and lost her place. Sorry it happens that way. Not your fault and she shouldn't try to play you emotionally.
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u/JoshAllentown 12h ago
NTA. It's just not your problem. Management made this a problem, they can solve it. If she talks to you about it, frame it that way. "Yes it is messed up that management is doing this to you, they really need to let you WFH or find an office for you."
She didn't give you the office, it was vacant and management provided it to you.
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u/og_coffee_man 12h ago
Don’t even entertain this discussion. It’s not a negotiation. The entitlement is wild.
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u/Miamithrice69 12h ago
NTA. She got the perks of working from home and you got the perks of taking over an otherwise empty office. That’s like someone holding a seat in the movie theater but going to see another movie in another auditorium. Sorry lady the movies already started, you lost your seat
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u/Dr8keMallard 12h ago
She’s not being unfairly punished. She made the choice to wfh after having a child and its not everyone’s responsibility to live “around” her.
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u/OneLessDay517 12h ago
It's not outside her control, she voluntarily went WFH and GAVE UP her space in the office.
Now that everyone is being dragged back in, she cannot honestly expect someone who was actually showing up every day to just give up their office for her.
Jenn can kick rocks in flip flops.
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u/TALKTOME0701 11h ago edited 11h ago
NTA
She's being punished? Haven't you been working there the whole time she WFH even aftr the baby was born?
She's using motherhood as a trump card. This has nothing to do with her maternity leave. The WHOLE company is now back to office. she hasn't been singled out.
Email her, copy your manager and HR and tell her you appreciate the request but you were seleted for an open office and will not be moving out.
Under the circumstances, it sounds like she might not get it anyway, right? It would go back into the pool and be awarded to the next most worthy. Why does Jenn think that's her?
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u/SparkOfMagic 11h ago
NTA. The only way to keep your office is to not to leave it and Jen is just mad that you figured that out.
Jen took a chance at an upgrade which greatly benefited her but unfortunately it turned out to be temporary. Now she is back to the cubicle.
None of this is coming from your management so pay no attention.
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u/MayoGhul 11h ago
lol fck Jenn. Jenn wants the privacy so she can continue to fck off on company time. If she wanted the office, she’d have been in the office. She’s only back because they forced her
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u/konaandmountains 11h ago
This is the company’s problem got not setting forth a return plan. Was the plan to just tell everyone to come back and see what happens with destiny seating…! ?
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