Seeking Flexibility for Family: AITA for Requesting a Work Schedule Change?

Newborn life doesn’t care about office policies. One guy just wanted two work-from-home days so he could actually be there for his first child, and his boss basically hit him with the corporate rulebook.

OP has been at this job for five years and has a pretty rigid 9-to-5 setup with limited remote options. After his wife gave birth, he asked to work from home two days a week to handle childcare, but his boss said the company policy does not allow regular exceptions, and that nobody has ever gotten special treatment for this kind of request.

Now OP is stuck wondering whether pushing for flexibility makes him a bad guy, or just a dad trying to keep up.

Original Post

I (30M) have been working at my current job for the past 5 years. Recently, my wife gave birth to our first child, which naturally shifted my priorities.

For background, my workplace has a strict 9-5 policy with limited remote work options. Given the demands of caring for a newborn, I approached my boss with a request for a flexible work schedule to accommodate my new family responsibilities.

I proposed working from home two days a week to manage childcare effectively. My boss was sympathetic but pointed out that the company policy doesn't allow remote work, especially on a regular basis.

He mentioned that exceptions had never been made before due to the nature of our work. Despite this, I reiterated the importance of being present for my family and finding a work-life balance that suits us all.

After some back and forth, my boss agreed to consider my request but warned me that any changes to the existing policy could set a precedent for others to ask for similar arrangements. This made me feel torn between my family needs and potentially causing disruption at work.

So, AITA for pushing back and asking my boss to consider a more flexible work schedule against company policy? I truly want to do right by both my family and my job, but it's a tough situation for me.

Comment from u/catlover99

Comment from u/coffeebean87

Comment from u/musiclover22

Comment from u/gamer_gal_96

Comment from u/pizza_ninja123

It also echoes the employee who refused their boss work-from-home after unfair treatment of team members.

Comment from u/bookworm45

Comment from u/codingwizard

Comment from u/beachbum_78

Comment from u/techgeek2000

Comment from u/musicjunkie80

OP’s wife just had their first baby, and he’s trying to make the 9-to-5 schedule work without fully drowning in childcare chaos.

When he offered two remote days, his boss sympathized, then shut it down with the line about no regular exceptions ever being made.

The part that really messes with OP is the warning that changing the policy for him could open the floodgates for everyone else.

So now he’s stuck between being present for his newborn and not wanting to “set a precedent” at work.

We'd love to hear your take on this situation. Share your thoughts below.

He’s not asking for perks, he’s asking for a schedule that won’t leave his family hanging.

Before you judge the boss, read how one employee pushed family-friendly policy changes and sparked workplace backlash.