When my boss called late one afternoon, I expected a routine check-in. Instead, he told me that effective immediately, I was required to work full-time from the office. This came as a shock—I had been hired as a fully remote employee. I explained that I didn’t own a car and that the office was nearly two hours away. His response was blunt: my commute wasn’t his concern. There was no discussion and no acknowledgment of our original agreement.

Rather than argue, I thanked him and spent the evening thinking through my options. The next morning, I did exactly what was asked. I woke up early, planned a long route using public transportation, and arrived at the office on time. The commute was exhausting, but I worked professionally throughout the day. I noticed quiet surprise from management, as if they hadn’t expected me to actually show up under those conditions.