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Public accounting is a young wageslave's game. I can't count the number of times scheduling has tried to make me do overnight travel on a day's notice. Find a job that respects you as a human being.
Luckily I’m in tax, no travel really, same desk, same routine day in and out. I’m assuming by your reply that you made it out?
This was exactly my situation....older, second career, WFH evenings, managers in different offices. I was in corporate for many years so my work ethic was already established. During the interview I was told about flexibility and if I wanted to WFH. I told them at least one day a week. Three months after getting hired, I wanted to establish a formal WFH arrangement and was told it was too soon. This put a hardship on my family because we alternated family responsibilities such as child care drop offs and pick ups. My managers were very flexible and worked with me. I established an unofficial arrangement. I finally got WFH officially approved almost two years after hire. My suggestion is to speak to your Managers and ask if they’d mind if you WFH one day a week. As mentioned above, over communicate when WFH. Acknowledge messages immediately even if you can’t complete the task right away. Don’t let the unofficial arrangement go on too long without making it official. I think the problem for Experienced hires (Staff and Associates) is that we are all lumped into the same category as recent college graduates. Only the time with the company is considered, not work/professional history. If WFH is not approved immediately, it too shall pass. Don’t let it get you down. Stay positive, you’ll get through it. Wish you all the best
Your coach sounds more like a babysitter, and that makes for a bad work environment. Also sounds like the managing partner is leading you into 2002. Old-school management is frustrating and deflates morale, and also impedes productivity.
Who’s saying you can’t WFH? The senior/manager you’re working with? Have you asked them why they have a problem with it? I know that I’m usually skeptical of first years working from home since they typically need more help and it’s easier to help if we’re both in the office. But as I get to know their habits better, I typically don’t have any issues letting them work remotely. I would try talking with them, and trying to figure out a plan to make it work. Even if it means you need to over communicate what you’re working on while at home for a while, just to really build up the trust
Yup big 4. It’s crap to be honest. I have to check in with him for a doctors appointment, but have only ever seen or spoken to him a handful of times. I think I’m going to start by talking to the manager on each engagement I’m on and get their explicit OK, explain why I want to, and then come back to my coach and explain.
At my last job (different industry) I could WFH any day I wanted, as long as all my work was done no one batted an eye. Got used to that, and the advertising of flexibility from recruitment lead me to believe I could decide to take a day a week or so as my schedule allows once I prove myself. That is not the case at all. That being said, I want a day or so a week when I know I already have a mountain of work to finish and no meetings. I am no slouch, just don’t see the need to have to go in every single day to sit in a desk there when I could easily and more comfortable work here - especially since I’m regularly working 50-60 hours a week.
No one comes looking for me at my desk for anything except my work buddies, and while awesome, their visit makes me lose my focus and ultimately be less productive. A little WFH here and there would give me more time with my wife and soon to be kid, and more time to study for CPA. Am I asking too much? I feel like my coach thinks I’m being pushy and like I’m asking the world of the firm, though there are other first years that I know who already have a regular day or two a week.