Is it fair I’m being forced back to the office despite no firm policy?

Perhaps I’m being stubborn and unrealistic but I really enjoy WFH, it removes the facetime element of IBD. I’m far more productive/efficient and mentally happier. Plus despite having the jab, it doesn’t make you immune to the virus as many people still catch it and pass it onto others so I feel much safer WFH.

My firm has not implemented a return to work policy yet so most people remain WFH, however my VP is being a bit of a douche by calling me out for WFH. He keeps saying it reflects badly on me and that I should be showing my face in the office. Like wtf dude. If I don’t turn up in the office he calls me and it regularly goes like this

VP: why aren’t you in?

me: I didn’t feel the need to come in today as I can do everything from home plus saves me the commute time so I can be more efficient at work, ive also noticed most other teams aren’t in so don’t see the point in coming into the office 

VP: it doesn’t matter, this reflects very poorly on your attitude and the teams perception of you. you should be coming in, especially because your MD is in. 

me: understood, I’ll come in (then I go in that day and then try to WFH the next day.. only to have my VP call me again  asking why I’m not in the office again.. then this whole conversation repeats)

back ground on my MD: he’s a very nice guy but is the weird psychopath type of MD that absolutely loves his job. it’s genuinely his passion he lives and breathes IBD. he has worked in the office everyday over the past 18 months pandemic. Even when we were on a strict lockdown and not allowed in the office at all he still snuck in and worked in there by himself. He hates WFH and believes it’s a bad idea so thinks we should all be back in the office. So he is always in and so is my VP.

The VP makes me feel bad for WFH but perhaps he is genuinely looking out for me and giving me advice given our MD is always in the office? Or perhaps he’s just being a douche, im not sure.

1) what are your thoughts on the above situation?

2) am I the one in the wrong and should I just suck it up and work in the office despite our firm not announcing a return to work policy yet? 

1 Comments
 

Saepe vero ratione in similique voluptatem quasi. Praesentium quisquam facere aperiam aliquid iusto repudiandae eligendi. Non ut magni illo molestiae quasi dignissimos labore. Et ipsam facere ab qui sint laudantium. Voluptate molestiae voluptas sed et rerum quo. Nisi voluptatibus sit velit. Et molestiae consequatur nobis qui et officia omnis.

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.

Career Advancement Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • JPMorgan 01 98.3%
  • Guggenheim Partners 01 97.7%
  • Morgan Stanley 07 97.1%

Overall Employee Satisfaction

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Moelis & Company No 99.4%
  • Morgan Stanley 02 98.9%
  • Evercore 01 98.3%
  • BMO Capital Markets 12 97.7%
  • Banco Santander 01 97.1%

Professional Growth Opportunities

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Evercore 01 99.4%
  • Moelis & Company 01 98.9%
  • Morgan Stanley 06 98.3%
  • Goldman Sachs 01 97.7%
  • JPMorgan 01 97.1%

Total Avg Compensation

July 2026 Investment Banking

  • Vice President (15) $434
  • Associates (46) $258
  • 3rd+ Year Analyst (8) $210
  • 2nd Year Analyst (22) $179
  • Intern/Summer Associate (13) $156
  • 1st Year Analyst (79) $150
  • Intern/Summer Analyst (73) $101
notes
16 IB Interviews Notes

“... there’s no excuse to not take advantage of the resources out there available to you. Best value for your $ are the...”

Leaderboard

1
redever's picture
redever
99.2
2
kanon's picture
kanon
99.0
3
Secyh62's picture
Secyh62
99.0
4
BankonBanking's picture
BankonBanking
99.0
5
DrApeman's picture
DrApeman
98.9
6
dosk17's picture
dosk17
98.9
7
CompBanker's picture
CompBanker
98.9
8
GameTheory's picture
GameTheory
98.9
9
Betsy Massar's picture
Betsy Massar
98.9
10
bolo up's picture
bolo up
98.8
success
From 10 rejections to 1 dream investment banking internship

“... I believe it was the single biggest reason why I ended up with an offer...”