A probation employee questions WFH rules after being left alone in office while her entire team works remotely
WITH rising fuel prices and persistent traffic congestion during peak hours, many sectors in Malaysia have increasingly adopted remote work.
However, a netizen shared that she is the only member of her team not allowed to work from home.
“I’m still on probation, so I’m not allowed to work from home. But today, my whole team, including the manager, is WFH, so what am I supposed to do? I genuinely don’t have any pending tasks,” Narissa wrote in a Threads post. She added that she felt quite lonely since no teammates were in the office.
A user suggested that the restriction may be linked to benefits not yet applicable during probation.
“For example, like annual leave, you can’t take it during probation, but it can accumulate and be used after probation ends. That’s just my guess,” @masapiqua commented.
She also advised Narissa to demonstrate initiative rather than simply waiting for instructions.
“Maybe come up with a few new suggestions or recommendations on what could be improved in your job scope,” she added.
Meanwhile, some netizens described being alone in the office as a “heavenly” experience. Diyana said, “That’s the thing. Just hanging around in the office, so people assume you’re working, but no one’s actually there, so it’s really just chilling.”
Rosnyta encouraged Narissa, noting that her WFH perk will soon be available after probation.
“I’ve been WFH for a year now, and it’s totally worth it. There was even a month I didn’t go to the office at all and saved so much time and petrol,” she shared.
READ MORE: Anwar urges public, private sectors to adopt work-from-home flexibility
Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the government is exploring work-from-home arrangements for civil servants, with the private sector encouraged to adopt similar measures.
He added that both public and private sector employees should work diligently to enhance Malaysia’s economic capacity and resilience amid global uncertainties.