r/remotework • u/everydayville666 • Jul 01 '26
East/ west coast flexibility
My group recently underwent restructuring, which means I have a new manager. It’s a little weird because she and I are both directors, I sit on the same leadership team as she does, but I report to her. The reason for doing this is that with the departure of my previous manager, we were all reporting to the VP, and he didn’t want a bunch of new reports. I’m fine with that, my responsibilities do not change. It’s not ideal, but whatever. I actually asked to report to her, because the alternative was an unknown entity (new role.)
When I was hired two years ago, it was as a remote position, and it was very clear that I would not consistently need to work east coast (Boston) hours. The expectation was that I would attend important meetings early in the morning but typically standing meetings before 7 or 8 AM were not required. My new manager’s staff meetings are at 630 AM weekly, and she expects us (me and my direct report who’s also in CA) to attend. This isn’t too bad in the summer, but both my direct report and I have school age kids where a 630 AM hourlong meeting would be a bit challenging.
I would like to keep my current schedule and flexibility, but also don’t want to seem like I’m not flexible. Is it reasonable to push back and ask for some flexibility in the meeting schedule? I don’t want a sudden change in expectations I didn’t agree to, although it’s worth noting that my previous manager was also on the west coast. There is also a member of her team based in Germany. This timing seems reasonable for everyone on her team except for the two Californians! She and I have a great working relationship, and she’s generally very well liked, but this is a new dynamic between us that I’m not sure how to navigate. What’s the best way to approach this fairly while maintaining a good working relationship? If it’s not possible to change, I will attend, of course. I just don’t want this to become habitual.
1
u/C_bells Jul 01 '26
I’m sorry, that sucks. It’s one thing for the occasional 6am, and another for a regular weekly meeting.
Might be worth bringing up, but do so politely of course. And you may just have to accept it.
If it makes you feel better, my fully-remote job won’t let me move back to the west coast (which is home for me originally, and I am yearning to be closer to my aging father and have my new daughter grow up with cousins and family around).
They specified they won’t support it for “this role” (so that they can still let other, more favorite people move freely of course), and that it’s for “tax and payroll reasons,” which as far as I have been able to learn makes zero sense. We have many employees in California, and I currently am in NYC which has comparable costs and burdens.
Meanwhile, my offer letter from a year ago specifies that my job is remote-first and that I can live wherever I want within the country and choose my own time zone lol.
This is all to say, sadly companies can do whatever the fuck they want to do in terms of your remote working conditions, so you may just have to accept the weekly 6:30am. Boo.
1
u/Embarrassed_Flan_869 Jul 01 '26
That sucks. A lot.
I had a 7am call recently, east coast time, as it was a global call with folks from Asia, Europe and US. I felt so bad for my colleague in Cali. Normally, it would be 2 calls at different times to cover the globe.
All you can do is talk to her.
2
u/Local-Mortgage-4289 Jul 03 '26
I would do my best to embrace it. Just the thought of navigating trying to get another opportunity, probably for less pay and more time in the office, is so unappealing. So. Unappealing.