Remember the letter-writer who wanted to cut her hours and go fully remote so she could travel with her retired spouse (#4 at the link)?
Here’s the update.
I did the thing with my boss. Not in the way I would have hoped — my family member (not my person, Bob) had a life-changing event that will need me in state for three days to 30 years. I’m totally figuring this out as I go.
I freaked out and told Boss one day about my intentions after l my family member stabilized and what I needed to do after for life without regrets and Boss was great. They were very understanding about my situation, having experienced something similar, and though disappointed wanted to think on it.
Boss ultimately decided that they weren’t comfortable with my role being remote for up to months at a time; they didn’t want someone in my position on the fly that much and (maybe) didn’t understand how well or how often I currently do my job remotely.
Nevertheless, I’ve got a grace period. We’ve got time to figure it out. It’s not the way I would have chosen but it’s icing on the best cake possible under the circumstances.
I’m not totally happy with how things are right now, but I’m so glad I put on my big person pants and said the thing I said. I’ve worked with Boss for about an eternity and it is what it is.
They are a really good person and I do trust that they’re doing their best to figure out the job going forward while also figuring out me going forward.
Thank you, Alison and the commentators, for helping me think I wasn’t a complete idiot to do this.
All the love to all the folx who said something about Bob being my person. I think there’s an old line in a Kenny Rogers song that is something like “there’s someone for everyone” and Bob is definitely my person. I kinda adore him to the ends of the universe.
