'Is this even legal?': New employee signs contract to work remotely, employer rug-pulls and demands they come in once a week

Author image for JR Atkinson
JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor
May 5, 2025 10:00 PM EDT

The difference between working remotely sometimes and working remotely all the time is a huge one. When you're fully remote (and with the ability to work asynchronously) you could be anywhere in the world. You could decide to give up your apartment and spend every month in a new city. You can come and go whenever you please and not have to inform anyone that you're doing it. It's a different sense of freedom than going into the office, even if it's only once a week. I don't know if you've noticed, but there are a lot of weeks in a year. 

Those days add up over time, and putting a structure to your life can be nice if you're after that kind of thing, but not so nice if you were expecting to work fully remotely. That's the quagmire one worker found themselves in when they signed a work contract that they found out wasn't fully telling the truth. 

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    14 C
    via Maccy

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • So when they were going through the onboarding process at a new job, there was a new caveat they hadn't been previously told about. What seemed like a small ask from the employer's perspective made the employee wonder whether or not they were making the right decision. Read on for the story to see what happened.

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    I did an interview, got accepted, and signed a contract for a remote job. First day of work, and they tell me I have to come to the office once a week. What should I do?

    I actually reconfirmed with them that this job was offered to me as remote, and they frankly said they know it was offered as remote but they still want me to come in once a week. I said no, and they said, "We'll see if it's possible."
    via u/samuelrichw
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    I left my old job, which was full- time and permanent, for this contract. I informed my recruitment agency, and they were very surprised and disgusted; they said they would talk to the manager about this.
    via u/samuelrichw
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    They hired another woman in the same position as me who started at the same time; we are all in other states, but because I live an hour and a half away from the headquarters, I'm the only one they're asking to come in. Is this even legal? I would never have left my old job if I had known this!
    via u/samuelrichw
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    Commenters gave advice on how to handle this situation.

    apu8it 2h ago • If your coworkers are also remote due to living out of state and you accepted the job as remote, you could mention that compensation for commute, time, transport was not negotiated at the time of signing and this is a new requirement that has financial impact to you
    via u/apu8it
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    Vegetable_Luck89... . 2h ago What was in writing that you received and/or signed? Not sure what would be illegal about asking you to come in, but what is in writing will hold up better than anything else.
    via u/Vegetable_Luck8981
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    Bec21-21 2h ago Where are you based? You mentioned states so I thought US but you also mention a contract which is less common in the US. In the US, in most states, workers have very few rights.
    via u/Bec21-21
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    HORINCE LIFE
    via Corinne Kutz

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

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    tatotornado · 1h ago • Found this out in PA. I was onboarded for a new job that I wasn't told was a live-in position (higher ed) until my first week on the job. I consulted an atty and they basically said tough luck.
    via u/tatotornado
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    dgeniesse 1h ago If you are a consultant, not an employee, you can either renegotiate the contract or void it.
    via u/dgeniesse
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    M 48m ago Edited 35m ago Did you read the contract? I'd say ignore the people telling you "the contract is useless" or that you're "out of luck" until you actually READ the contract and have a labor attorney read & explain it to you in detail.
    via u/MahoganyQueen9832
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    There may be some protections in there for you OR you may have actually signed an agreement to come in person without realizing it. There should be a definition in the contract of "remote". There may be an opportunity for you to renegotiate for more compensation due to the added commute.
    via u/MahoganyQueen9832
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    Next you have to decide if the commute is really worth leaving the new job.
    via u/MahoganyQueen9832
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    . Illustrious_Act_... 34m ago Check your contract. If it says fully remote stuck to it. If it says hybrid or anything. about in office x days you're out of luck
    via u/Illustrious_Act_3953
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    Strong Attempt41... • 1h ago This is unfortunately a risk you take in 2025. In this current market, I would strongly consider sucking it up. Especially as a 3rd party contractor
    via u/Strong_Attempt4185
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    Investigator516 • 1h ago . Personally I would consider this a voided contract because they broke it. They are discriminating against you by Background-that background is where you come from and live. They're doing it to you and no one else? Tell them the Remote must stay because you're moving further.
    via u/Investigator516
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    Always show a potential employment contract to a Labor attorney. They could. be packing that contract will all sorts of things that won't work well for you.
    via u/Investigator516
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    Longjumping-Host... • 1h ago It's not illegal. It's not a crime. You can get out of it if that's what you wish.
    via u/Longjumping-Host7262
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    Hugh_G_Rectshun⚫ 2h ago It's a shame you're moving an hour and a half away.
    via u/Hugh_G_Rectshun
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    Optimal_Law_42... . 43m ago "Illegal"? Probably not. Breach of contract? Again probably not but read your contract. You CAN contact a real lawyer and spend the money if it will make you feel better. If it's worth it to you then great. Just be ready for them to tell you there's nothing you can do other than get a different job.
    via u/Optimal_Law_4254
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    If I felt the way you did I would keep my mouth shut and do what they tell me while looking for a different job. If you don't mind being unemployed while you're looking go ahead and quit but I would suggest keeping the paychecks coming.
    via u/Optimal_Law_4254
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    Vivid-Kitchen1917 30m ago . "Well see if it's possible." "Yeah it's not" If it's not in the contract then they don't pay you to do it. That said, when I worked in D.C., an hour and a half is just rush hour commute down the street.
    via u/Vivid-Kitchen1917
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    NotRightRabbit 27m ago • If they insist, maybe you go in once a quarter.
    via u/NotRightRabbit

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