A single mom, recently hired in a remote-restricted federal position, is facing upheaval with new return-to-office (RTO) mandates. Despite the initial joy of job stability and benefits, she now anticipates doubling her childcare expenses. Previously, she valued her remote role for its flexibility, allowing her to better manage her children's schedules. While she appreciates the federal job's stability and good benefits, she is anxious about the potential job instability stemming from the mandatory return to in-person work, which complicates her personal and financial situation.
I'm a single mom and I was recently hired as a remote-restricted federal employee, which means I'm within the 50-mile radius of an office. I've always been remote. I like it because I don't have to cram everything into this very small window. I get to get my kids to their activities without making them feel stressed out or stressing myself out - but I would have taken this job if it wasn't fully remote, based on the salary bump. It's worth it.
A federal job means a pension and really good benefits. If you're a high performer, there's an easy path to continue working your way up. It's not the highest salary that you can possibly get, but you work with really great people who want to do really good things for this country.
Then, my agency recently received our return-to-office guidelines. We're expected to return in the next couple of months. Since my position is covered by a collective bargaining unit, I'm waiting on my specific return date, but the expectation is I'll be returning full-time in person.
I'm grappling with an RTO order and job instability. I plan to nearly double the amount I'm spending on day care when I return to work full-time.
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