'Let Them Fire You': Remote Worker Urged to Ignore Boss's 'Dealbreaker'

Remote work has transformed from a byproduct of COVID-19 lockdowns into a critical aspect of well-being for many American workers, including one employee who said she was threatened with termination for refusing to work in the office.

The distressed worker took to Reddit's "Antiwork" forum last week, posting under the username u/pugpaws17. Her story, which mirrors others circulating on social media, has amassed 8,400 votes.

The employee said she was hired for a 100 percent remote position. That worked well for her, since she lives a two-hour drive from work, turning an 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. day at the office into a 13-hour workday. The cost of travel and pet care for her two dogs would also be exorbitant for her, she said.

But on Thursday, her boss told her that employees were being required to work in the office once a week—adding that "if that's a dealbreaker, then he understands."

The employee said this condition was indeed a dealbreaker, bringing up her car costs, pet care and the initial promise that her job would always be remote.

"He said that's all fine, no hard feelings, just let him know when my last day will be," the worker recounted. "I was taken aback, I said, 'Oh it's a dealbreaker as in I'll be fired?' He said yes, it's a requirement and if I can't meet it I'll be fired. He was strongly pushing me to quit and I told him I didn't intend to quit. He said if it's unemployment I'm concerned with that is fine, they will fire me if I prefer."

The employee said she was "at a loss" and "in a very bad place" after this meeting, which sent her scrambling to find another job.

Labor attorney Ryan Stygar told Newsweek her situation is far from uncommon.

"There's been a disturbing number of employers using offers of 'remote work' to entice candidates, only to require 100 percent in-office work once the job offer is accepted," Stygar said. "Whether this is illegal depends on the nature of the employment agreement."

The COVID-19 pandemic turned working from home into a norm at workplaces across the United States. In spring 2022, 58 percent of Americans reported having the option to work remotely at least one day a week, while 35 percent reported being able to work from home five days a week, according to McKinsey's American Opportunity Survey.

The survey also found that when employees are offered the chance to work remotely, an overwhelming 87 percent seize the opportunity.

By default, companies that offer remote work in their contract and pull a 180 after the start of employment have an advantage, Stygar said. Employers have broad discretion to alter work environments for their business needs.

Nonetheless, workers may have recourse in particular scenarios.

"If the remote working arrangement is a material term of the employment agreement, then the employer is effectively breaching its contract," Stygar said. "If the employee actually suffered a change of position (such as declining other work or leaving their former role) because they relied on the employer's promises of remote work, then there could be breach of contract claim for damages."

Additionally, an employee who requires work-from-home terms to accommodate a disability may be legally entitled to continue working from home regardless of the company policy.

Stygar explained, "If the [work-from-home] arrangement was already agreed upon, then the employer risks a claim of discrimination, failure to accommodate and wrongful termination (typically via a constructive discharge claim) when they suddenly revoke the accommodation without cause."

On Reddit, readers urged u/pugpaws17 to stick with the job until she was explicitly fired.

"Definitely let them fire you," recommended one user. "If you quit you don't get unemployment checks."

Another person agreed, "Do not quit, just keep working as you do and never say you're quitting and just see if they chose to notify you of termination. And if he asks again when your last day is, respond with 'I have no intention of quitting, so I will not be giving you a date because I am not quitting.'"

Newsweek has reached out to u/pugpaws17 for comment.