News Channel Producer Quits Job After Working For 25 Years Post Return To Office Mandate

Jennifer Oliva, 50, loved her job but switched to work from home in 2020 along with other employees of the television channel

When asked to return to work post the pandemic in 2021, initially she tried to adapt to working in office again, however, she soon realised it is simply not working for her and quit.

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A news channel producer worked for nearly 25 years in New York City and Washington, DC, before quitting her job due to work-life balance. Jennifer Oliva, 50, loved her job but switched to work from home in 2020 along with other employees of the television channel. 

During this work-from-home opportunity, Oliva utilised the extra hours she would have spent commuting to work on her health and spend time with her children. Speaking to Business Insider, she said that this completely changed her outlook.

When asked to return to work post the pandemic in 2021, initially she tried to adapt to working in office again, however, she soon realised it is simply not working for her and quit.

A single mother of two, today, Oliva is an entrepreneur and operates a thriving business. “I spent almost 25 years working as a network television producer in New York City and Washington, DC. I loved my job, and even though it often involved long hours, it was thrilling,” she said.

Before the work-from-home policy, Oliva said the she spent 2.5 hours everyday in the commute. “When I started working from home, I decided to keep waking up at 6:30 a.m., but instead of rushing to the train, I used those morning hours to exercise and organize my day. I spent the post-work commuting hours with my kids, family, and friends. I started to feel so much healthier and happier. Without my commute, I could spend more time with my kids, make them dinner and lunch, and take midday walks,” she elaborated.

She further said that when her company implemented a return-to-office policy in 2021, she asked her boss to give her a hybrid schedule. However, she added that the company didn’t allow any exceptions. 

“I argued that I could accomplish my job better from home, I had proven I could do it remotely over the past year and a half, and it saved me time and gave me a better work-life balance. I was happier even though I was technically on the clock and logged in for more hours working from home. I didn't want to return to the treadmill of a life I had before the pandemic, but I wasn't mad at my company for its return-to-office policy. It's a corporation, and they needed to do what was best for their business. However, I needed to do what was best for me and my family,” she explained.

In December 2021, she quit her job and eventually started her own publicity company to control her own schedule and life. “I'm grateful my company had the RTO mandate because it helped me realize what I cared about in my career,” she stated.