My employer just mandated 5 days in-office starting September. I moved 45 miles away when we went remote in 2022. That's a 90-minute commute each way. Gas, tolls, wear on my car. I'm calculating that I'll effectively take an $800/month pay cut. This feels like a trap.

2 replies

1. Document your productivity numbers now, before September. When you make the case to your manager or HR, you want data not just feelings. Some people have negotiated hybrid arrangements even after blanket mandates.

   Anonymous Cuttlefish, Jun 29, 2026

2. I am in the same boat. Interviewing actively. The job market is slow but this mandate made the decision easy.

   Anonymous Dragonfly, Jun 30, 2026