As companies push for a return to the office post pandemic, employees are pushing back, seeking flexibility and security in their work environments. Recently, a disgruntled IT worker made waves online with a bold move against his company’s strict “no work from home” policy.
A viral screenshot shared by X user @BladeoftheS revealed the employee’s Reddit post. The post detailed how the employee, frustrated by his company’s insistence on office presence despite his remote-capable role, decided to delete email and Teams from his phone, effectively cutting off after-hours communication.
The post read, “My job recently told me that even during the snowstorm we got earlier this week, I am not allowed to work from home at all. Even though I work in IT and do everything remotely, they want me in the office. So, I deleted Teams and my email off my phone. I am no longer available after hours.”
He further explained that when his boss tried to call him for something urgent and couldn’t reach him, he explained the situation, reiterating that the company’s policy doesn’t allow him to work from home.
The post quickly went viral, garnering widespread support. Many commenters praised the employee’s response as fair and reasonable and highlighted the benefits of working from home, including time and cost savings on commuting.
One commenter mentioned that working from home had significantly improved their productivity and happiness, eliminating the daily two-hour commute and making it an obvious choice. Another pointed out the inconsistency of employers who resist remote work requests but expect employees to handle critical tasks from anywhere when needed for support.
A third emphasised that even if remote work is allowed, bosses should not expect employees to be available outside of regular working hours unless their role is life-saving. Another commenter stressed the importance of setting boundaries by not taking work calls regardless of career stage. Finally, one summed it up by calling the employee’s actions a case of “malicious compliance” and describing it as wonderfully passive-aggressive.