Dr. Christopher Dague

Manager: Starting next month, the new policy is five days a week in the office. No exceptions. Employee: I manage the New Zealand accounts. Most of my calls happen between 12 a.m. and 2 a.m. Working remotely helps me manage that schedule. Manager: We need you at your desk from 8 to 5. The whole team needs to be together to improve our culture. Employee: If I’m at my desk from 8 to 5, I won’t be available for those midnight calls. Manager: Figure it out. We’re not bending the rules for one person. Employee: Understood. Here is my resignation. Manager: Great. Rules are rules! One month later… Manager: Why are sales in the New Zealand region down 50%? HR: Because nobody is answering their calls. Manager: Why not? HR: Because it’s midnight here, and everyone is asleep. Manager: We need someone to answer those calls. Team Lead: We had someone. You made them sit in traffic for two hours a day just to sit in office with noise cancellation headphones. Manager texts Employee… Manager: The New Zealand region is a mess. We can offer you a hybrid schedule if you come back. Employee: Sorry, it’s too late. My new company trusts me to manage my time, not my location. You can mandate a desk. You can’t mandate engagement. When you value policies over people, you lose your best people.