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AITA for Facing Backlash After Requesting Remote Work Proof? Years ago, while working as a field organizer, I found myself with a manager who had clearly said she didn’t want to manage anyone. But due to some events, I ended up reporting directly to her.
In our first meeting, I explained all my tasks, where to find my reports (weekly, monthly, quarterly, and yearly), how to track my schedule, and the best way to give me feedback during our monthly check-ins.
She wasn’t used to working with field organizers and was surprised that I wouldn’t be in the office except for meetings and handing in reports. She said, “If you’re not in the office where I can see you, how will I know you’re working? You could be doing anything you want, and I’d never know.”
Even though that assumed a lot about my character, I kept my thoughts to myself. Instead, I offered to have my task-tracking app email her every time I finished a task. She agreed.
I work fast always have. This has sometimes been an issue with colleagues, as I often create backlogs and make others uncomfortable about their productivity. I used to get frustrated, wishing everyone worked at my pace. By then, I had learned to manage it better pacing myself with others or finding roles where my speed was an asset.
This job was the latter. We were doing underfunded, community-driven work where our success or failure could mean whether people could pay their rent or buy food. So, I worked quickly.
After three days of her getting hundreds of emails each day about my completed tasks, she decided she didn’t need to know whether I was working or not.
We ended up becoming good friends, realizing we had a lot in common. We teamed up against other bosses who made poor decisions, knowing we could fix their problems. Neither of us works there anymore we’ve moved on to better jobs but we’re still friends today.
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AITA for Facing Backlash After Requesting Remote Work Proof?
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Years ago, while working as a field organizer, I ended up with a manager who didn’t want to manage anyone. Despite her initial reluctance, I became her direct report.
In our first meeting, I outlined my tasks, report locations, schedule, and feedback process. Unfamiliar with field organizers, she was surprised I wouldn’t be in the office much. She said, “If you’re not in the office, how will I know you’re working?”
Rather than argue, I offered to have my task-tracking app email her every time I completed a task. She agreed.
I work fast, which sometimes makes colleagues uncomfortable. I’ve learned to manage this by pacing myself or finding roles where speed is valued. This job required quick work, as our community-driven projects directly impacted people’s ability to pay rent or buy food.
After three days of receiving hundreds of emails about my tasks, she decided she didn’t need to monitor me so closely.
We became good friends, realizing we had a lot in common. We often teamed up to solve problems caused by poor decisions from other bosses. We’ve since moved on to better jobs but remain friends to this day.
Let’s Find out top Commentators: AITA for Facing Backlash After Requesting Remote Work Proof?
.NaughtyCheffie writes:
whether or not someone looks like they’re working is a terrible metric for measuring what work is actually getting done.
Confusing motion with progress is a common theme among really shitty management.
Coolbeanschilly writes:
It’s nice to read a story that has a happy ending, where the management is not manglement.
Feather_of_a_Jay writes:
I‘m really glad to read you two became friends!
Her best move would have been to ride out with you for a day, but I’m glad she came around and decided to trust you.
That said, I’ve worked in non-profits where some people seemed to do fuck-all (pardon the phrase, but it’s just right) while insisting that they were blazingly busy. So I can understand her initial attitude, even if she should have seen for herself rather than make you prove it for her.
