I’ve thrived working remotely for the past few years, but my company has changed their policy to mandate working in the office three days a week. I can’t go back.

Q. My company just announced that we need to return to the office three days a week. Since Covid, I’ve been working remotely, and it’s changed my life for the better. I’ve lost 15 pounds using my commute time to exercise and prepare healthy meals. I am less stressed and remain productive if not more so. I cried when I heard the news. And there is NO flexibility. If my child is sick, I need to take sick time, I can’t work remotely when those situations crop up- which they do. A lot! I love my job, but my life is better working remotely. Should I open my job search nationally to try to find a new remote role?

A. Congratulations on adjusting your world to create a healthier you. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, many people gained time when they no longer worked in an office, but not everyone learned how to use that time in a way to benefit their lives. Many people worked more, some people slept more, many people watched TV more or didn’t do things that were necessarily beneficial. Many people talked about trying to use that time for something else, but it didn’t always happen. You say there is no flexibility, but I wonder what you’ve explored. Have you talked to your manager? Have you talked to Human Resources? Who has decided that there is no flexibility? Is that just the message that has been given?

Many organizations have decided that having employees work in the office “hybrid” three days a week as being optimal for them in terms of developing strong cultures, ensuring that teams support each other, and maintaining performance. Research shows that there is an organizational benefit to having people in the office three days a week. Your conversation with your manager should focus on your job responsibilities and why it wouldn’t necessarily matter whether you perform your responsibilities in the office or not.

Unfortunately, most companies aren’t focused on the benefits of your working from home and the work/life balance it affords. They are more focused on the benefits the organization gets from you being physically in the office. So that’s what you need to focus on. When your child is sick, you should take time off regardless of where you are working. You may be able to do some work while your child naps, but that’s not something to base your decision on looking for a different job.

If you love your job, then your first step is talking to the organization about whether there is any flexibility. Would you be capable of working two days in the office? Is that something that you would be willing to flex on? Can you find ways to keep your healthy habits while beginning to go to the office? Can you show them real data that supports how your job can be performed without coming into the office more days than that? I have seen organizations say that they need people in the office three days a week, but there’s been a great deal of flexibility where people will work two days from the office or people have been able to work around vacations and trips and work remotely. There is hopefully room for flexibility on a case-by-case basis. So, I encourage you to take up those conversations with the most senior people and those who see your corporate contributions and value to the organization.

You may be afraid to do that based on what you’ve heard, but I would continue to push that agenda first. If not, you are making the decision to start looking. There are websites that list remote jobs. See below for a few websites. You can also develop a resume that talks about how successful you’ve been at working remotely and how you can work independently. You may also find that there are a number of other people at your company who are in the same situation as you are. And having multiple people go to HR and say, “I need more notice than this. I need to arrange childcare. I might be able to work my way into three days a week over the next 6 to 12 months.” Look for all kinds of alternatives.

If you hated your job, it would be an easy switch, but you talk about really loving your work and loving the remote aspect of it. So, look for all alternatives before starting a search for a new role.

Remote Jobs in United States – JustRemote
Remote is a platform that connects you with remote working companies and jobs in design, marketing, programming, writing and more.
Remote Jobs in Programming, Support, Design and more (remotive.com)
Remotive is a platform that connects top talents with vetted tech companies that offer remote work opportunities.
Find Your Dream Remote Tech Job | Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent)
Find remote jobs for web developers, software engineers, graphic designers, data scientists, and more on Wellfound (formerly AngelList Talent).
FlexJobs: Best Remote Jobs, Work from Home Jobs, Online Jobs & More
FlexJobs is the longtime leader in helping job seekers find the highest-quality remote, work-from-home, hybrid, and flexible jobs. 
Remote Jobs: 1,000+ Job Openings for Remote Work | Jobspresso
Jobspresso features curated jobs in tech, marketing, sales, customer support, and more. 

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