How I became Remote Guy

For over five years, I have been working from home one day a week. This has been a huge benefit to me as I had a one hour commute each way. I am now working from home full time. Here is how that happened.

A few weeks ago, my employer announced that they would be closing their Seattle area office at the end of this year. They had already reduced the staff at that office by 80%, and removed most of the computer hardware from the building. So the announcement was not a complete surprise. But what happened next was.

Right after the announcement, I was invited to a ten minute meeting with two people I did not know. I learned later that they were HR people from the new headquarters. I was told that I had three options: relocate, work remotely, or leave at the end of the year. The first two options included incentives, but if I left I would get nothing.

When I discussed the options with my wife, the remote option was the only way to go. Our family has strong roots in the Northwest, so relocating out of this region was not a preferred choice at this point in our lives.

After two days I told the company I would stay on as a remote employee, knowing nothing about why I had gotten that option or what they wanted me to do next year.

Within a week, a manager from the new headquarters called me. He told me about a new team that was forming there that he wanted me to be involved with. I was careful because I did not know if he was aware of the site closure announcement. A few days later we talked again, and he made it clear he did know, and was offering me a job. And not just any job, but one that sounded like it was a good fit for me.

Once I had made the decision to work remote, I was told I could start working remotely at any time. Given that information, I wanted to start as quickly as possible. Continuing to drive to the office every day seemed to serve no purpose if I would not be staying in my current job with my current team.

And so, I picked a date, and let everyone know I would start working remotely from that day. My home office was ready in time, and I became Remote Guy.

I have no illusions about being a remote worker having only up sides. It impacts my family. I am well aware that it can be a career limiting move, especially over time. Out of sight, out of mind. But being unemployed is even more so. So overall, I am grateful, and hopeful. I will see what comes of it.