Boss refuses to let employee use WFH perk, then proceeds to use it herself every week: ‘She used multiple excuses to block the staff from using the option’

Author image for Bar Mor Hazut
Bar Mor Hazut • Senior Editor
Mar 14, 2026 1:00 PM EDT

Don't let them know your next move… or where you will be working from tomorrow.

We all know that bosses and managers never abide by the same rules as their employees. It doesn't matter where you work or what you do; the boss always gets treated like they are at least a little bit above everyone else. And everyone else gets tired of it really fast.

If someone climbed their way up the corporate ladder to reach a management position, it makes sense that they get to enjoy some extra perks, especially considering how hard they worked to get there. But as soon as that manager decides to purposely separate themselves from their employees, one might realize just how much these management positions can get into someone's head.

The boss in the story below, for example, has made it clear that she does not follow the same rules as her employees, or more accurately, they do not get to enjoy the same workplace conditions as she does. Even though the company offers all employees the option to occasionally work from home, this boss refuses to approve any WFH days for anyone on her staff. While other departments get to enjoy this perk, her staff is forced to come to the office five days a week.

Not only does she refuse her staff, but apparently, while her staff comes into the office every single day, she allows herself to work from home at least once a week. Her own rule does not apply to her, apparently, and whenever someone questions it, she refuses to explain her actions.

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  • One employee decided to take matters into his own hands and confront the boss for her lack of leadership. Why should she enjoy this perk of working from home while the rest of her employees must work from the office?

    The question is, will calling the boss out be enough to get her to fix her ways, or at least allow the employee to enjoy the benefits they are owed?

  • 01
    Woman Working From Home on Laptop
    via Karola G

    Woman Working From Home on Laptop.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02

    My Boss Uses WFH Weekly But Blocks The Staff From Doing It

    I have worked in my office several years and we have the option to work from home 1x week with managers approval.
    via AssumptionNo1
  • 03
    My boss has used multiple excuses to block the staff from using the option but then proceeds to use it every week herself.
    via AssumptionNo1
  • 04
    The common argument is "departmental needs" prevent us from using it while the rest of the other departments use it no problem.
    via AssumptionNo1
  • 05
    She emailed our department this week again saying unilaterally we are not allowed the option. I got fed up and asked her via "reply all" why she gets to use it but we aren't (which of course we received no reply).
    via AssumptionNo1
  • 06
    I took it a step further and asked the department head via email why there are different standards for employees and managers, and I was told that they would "caution me againts using generalizations like that when I don't know all the details".
    via AssumptionNo1
  • 07
    I don't understand how I am the bad guy for calling out the hypocrisy!
    via AssumptionNo1
  • 08
    Employees working in an office
    via vgajic

    Employees working in an office.

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    Diesel07012012 A perk that is left to the discretion of a single individual is not a perk.
    via Diesel07012012
  • 10
    Tomahawk757 You are ng into the wind. If you want your time back... take long lunches, take those breaks you may be entitled to (even salary depending on state), leave early/show up late, do the bare minimum. Use all this extra time you now have to aggressively seek more agreeable working conditions. Be prepared for the grass to not always be greener on the other side.
    via Tomahawk757
  • 11
    PresidentOfSwag "please enlighten us with details thanks"
    via PresidentOfSwag
  • 12
    Sea-Ad9057 try to schedule meetings on the day she books to wfh keep doing it so she also cant wfh
    via Sea-Ad9057
  • 13
    knight714 If you've got any health conditions where WFH makes things better for you (or can easily get diagnosed with one), use the magic phrase 'reasonable accommodation' in an email to HR.
    via knight714
  • 14
    BirdBruce Best thing you can do is actively and repeatedly make requests in writing to take advantage of the work-from-home offer. No assumptions, no comparisons to anyone else. Include your boss's boss on each iteration. If it's repeatedly declined without explanation (or with a vague one), follow up with a request for clarity. Always word it in such a way that you're looking out for the team, for the greater good-something like "I'd love to brainstorm with you and the rest of the team to find
    via BirdBruce
  • 15
    Maekaah Pecking order
    via Maekaah
  • 16
    ChooseWisely83 I had a boss that didn't think you could manage people remotely, who would then go work remotely from their cabin for a week.
    via ChooseWisely83
  • 17
    thehoagieboy All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.
    via thehoagieboy

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boss work from home workplace-stories remote work employee manager job email Office workplace company
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