Keeping The Remote Control

I used to have a traveling job, but my position was eliminated in favor of fully office-based work. I asked to work remotely from my home, but I was told that if I wanted to keep my job, I had to be in the office. So, my husband and I packed up our house, found a place near the main office several states away, and moved.

A few months in, another position in my department opened. A woman I worked with (another traveler who quit when the remote work stopped) applied for the job. I sat in on her virtual interview with (Manager) since we would be working together.

Manager: “So, you live in [another state], correct?”

Woman: “Yes, with my husband and our three children. I have a home office already set up, so I can work from here.”

Manager: “Oh, good! That’s great. Okay, so—”

Me: “I’m sorry, I’m going to jump in here. This position is still office-based, is it not?”

Manager: “Oh. Well, you and I can discuss this after the interview.”

I stayed quiet for the rest of the interview, but I heard a few things like “[My Name] will train you via video calls” and “you two will need to coordinate schedules across time zones.” I was p***ed. When it was done, [Manager] asked me to come to his office.

Manager: “So, I think we need to talk about your outburst in that interview.”

Me: “Okay.”

Manager: “It was not your job to comment on whether this position is office-based or remote.”

Me: “But—”

Manager: “It is supposed to be in the office, but [Woman] has a family to consider. I know you and your husband moved here, and that is great, but—”

Me: “Is being in the office required for this position or not?”

Manager: “Well, yes, but—”

Me: “So, she will need to work in the office to accept the position?”

Manager: “You’re not listening. It is not the norm, but—”

Me: “My husband quit his job and found a new one here. I sold my house. I moved almost 1,000 miles to keep my job because that was a requirement of the position.”

Manager: “Let’s table this conversation until you’ve calmed down.”

Me: “Here’s the bottom line: if you allow her to work remotely, I will quit, effective immediately.”

I walked out and began searching for jobs immediately. [Manager] later called [Woman] and told her the position would not be remote, and she withdrew her application. [Manager] decided that the most professional response to my “outburst” was to close the position and refuse to hire someone who was willing to work from the office. Whenever someone brought it up, [Manager] would comment that I was making it difficult to hire anyone because of my “outbursts” during interviews (which was one comment in one interview). 

I quit anyway.