‘Guess who wasn't there?’: Hypocritical CEO tries to revoke WFH system, is a no-show when whole company goes into office

Author image for Lana DeGaetano
Lana DeGaetano • "Show me to me please."
Jul 20, 2024 9:00 AM EDT

Don't push for a return-to-office mandate if you can't follow it yourself.

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  • The WFH system has been a helpful tool for many employees who have no dire need to be in the office, are interested in jobs that are located across the world, or have conditions that prevent them from traveling and partaking in any activity that may be considered strenuous. The world as we know it adjusted to the WFH structure for good reason. Many offices are permanently keeping it because, in a lot of cases, the structure just works. Many companies aren't reliant on in-person structures because the nature of their work isn't as collaborative as other professions. Other offices are pushing for RTO, a return to office structure.

    The employee in this story is on the tech team for a company, and since WFH was popularized, the company started hiring people who lived further and further away to join their team. A new CEO was hired, and since then, he has been insisting that all employees must return to the office, as it “boosts” company morale. OK. Another C-suite executive then pays for every employee's travel expenses to get to the office for a day, and the CEO is nowhere to be found. What's that saying about practicing what you preach?

  • 01
    CEO wants return to office, CTO plays it perfect
    via mdlapla
  • 02
    I work for a spanish company, it's been like 7-8 years and we know each other pretty well.
    via mdlapla
  • 03
    I've known, and worked with, the CTO for like 10 years now. He's a cool guy that wants stuff done.
    via mdlapla
  • 04
    Even before the WFH (work from home) policy was extremely relaxed (you do you and have things done by the time we need it, we're OK) so when the came, the transition was as easy as it could get.
    via mdlapla
  • 05
    In fact, as a company and, specially on the tech team, we embraced the opportunity and started hiring people from outside the city for a cheaper salary than in the city but, for the people, a higher salary than the one they could get without moving into the city.
    via mdlapla
  • 06
    I even moved out of the city during that time. Since CTO didn't want to be a sales guy, the company hired a CEO in 2021, an englishman that came highly recommended and was stationed in his rural house in the English countryside. Looked like a cool relaxed guy for a while.
    via mdlapla
  • 07
    Once the ended, he started pushing rather heavily for a return to office (RTO) for everyone. He made polls, lengthy emails to everyone about how this fostered relationships and whatnot.
    via mdlapla
  • 08
    He got really pushy, even complaining to CTO about it. So every time he came to Spain, people that lived around the city would go to the office just to be there so CEO was happy.
    via mdlapla
  • 09
    And then, one time, CTO decided that he had enough about the whole RTO mandate and CEO complaining.
    via mdlapla
  • 10
    So, on a random meeting of the tech team, CTO said "ok, next tuesday, I want everyone on the office, if you live far away, book a train, drive, whatever you have to do, I'll pay, but be here."
    via mdlapla
  • 11
    And so we did. That tuesday every single one of the tech team, including people that took a 2 or 3 hour trip to get there, was in the office.
    via mdlapla
  • 12
    Guess who wasn't there? Yeah, the CEO. So, CTO took a picture, emailed it to CEO saying something along the lines of "if you can't lead by example, don't push my people to do things that don't work" and we went to have a relaxing lunch and beers type of day.
    via mdlapla
  • 13
    Aftermath: RTO mandate never came to fruition, CEO was out of the company a year later, we closed the office since everyone works 100% of the time from home, and, to his dismay, CTO is now CTO and acting CEO and things are going smoothly.
    via mdlapla
  • 14
    PN_Guin • 4h ago Interesting twist on compliance by forcing everyone to comply (once), to out the only one that didn't (the ceo).
    via PN_Guin
  • 15
    Rancid Horse 1h ago The CTO was already the CEO; he was just in denial.
    via RancidHorse****
  • 16
    Octogenarian • 2h ago . This only works where the CTO actually has more power than the CEO. Otherwise, that CTO is fired.
    via Octogenarian
  • 17
    Unique_Bumblebee_894 1h ago . CEO can't just fire another C suite executive. That's up to the board and chairman, and I doubt the CEO was a chairman based on the story.
    via Unique_Bumblebee_894
  • 18
    HODOROO 41m ago I will say this to my death. Wfh is a management issue. If you are a bad manager it. will become very apparent in a wfh situation. This is why so many bad managers are pushing rto. Because they only know how to do things. a certain way.
    via HODOR00
  • 19
    • . Dubai_Donkey 3h ago · Edited 3h ago you don't explain why the CEO didn't come... If the Owner is asking everyone to be there what was his excuse?
    via Dubai_Donkey
  • 20
    mdlapla OP. 3h ago oh, there was no excuse, he worked every single day from that little house on the prairie. He made the trip once every two months or so but tried to push us to be at the office every single day. So the CTO didn't even asked him to go to the office, as a way of saying: "don't ask my guys to be at the office everyday while you can WFH everyday"
    via mdlapla
  • 21
    HerelGoGrilling Again • 7m ago Butts-in-chairs management is what I call it. They can't properly evaluate their staff, so they default to easy things like time/attendance. It's harder to do that remotely. It's also why some managers spy on they staff when they do work remotely.
    via HereIGoGrillingAgain

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workplace-stories toxic-workplace work askreddit reddit story horrible-management Office wfh justice served workplace Horrible Bosses reddit thread red flag karma entitled people toxic-work-environment
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