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r/remotework r/JapaneseMaples
Image 1 — WWYD? Power company wants to remove mature canopy tree over Japanese Maple garden
Image 2 — WWYD? Power company wants to remove mature canopy tree over Japanese Maple garden
Image 3 — WWYD? Power company wants to remove mature canopy tree over Japanese Maple garden
Image 4 — WWYD? Power company wants to remove mature canopy tree over Japanese Maple garden
▲ 13 r/JapaneseMaples

WWYD? Power company wants to remove mature canopy tree over Japanese Maple garden

Today we received a notice from the power company that they are replacing the power pole on our property line. (Obviously, they have the authority to do so, and I’m cool with that.) They also want to remove the mature overstory tree that protects four Japanese maples from afternoon sun.

The timing is bad. We live in 6b Kansas, and summer is brutal. Highs in the 90s and 100s (sometimes 110s!), infrequent rains July through September. High winds and severe weather are constant.

The affected Japanese maples are a Ki Hachijo, an Orange Flame, a Kotobuki, and a Radiant, listed in order of closeness to the overstory tree that may be removed. Ki Hachijo has been in the ground for 2-3 years, and the others were planted in spring 2025. Currently, they receive filtered sun all day with a short burst of direct sun in the late afternoon. If this overstory tree is removed, they would get direct sun from 12 to 3-4pm.

The overstory tree in question has been pruned by the utility arborists many times over its life. I think it’s a hickory? The neighbors behind us have planted three Green Giant arborvitaes 15-20 feet away from the property line that will eventually block out the western sun.

I’ve considered removing this tree but wanted to wait until the maples were better established and the neighbors Green Giants were taller to provide better shade. Obviously, I would like to have the power company foot the bill for the removal.

What would y’all do in my place? Should I say yes to the removal, and can I even say no? Should I move any of the maples to a shadier spot in the yard? These trees are highly sentimental, and two are memorial trees for dogs we’ve lost.

I called the number on the notice to get more information, and maybe they will tell me this is a courtesy notification and that the tree has to come down regardless. I guess I’m freaking out a little bit, so I appreciate any words of wisdom.

Pictures 1-2 were taken today around 2pm. 3-4 are from this spring before the overstory trees fully leafed out.

u/tartoftomes — 3 days ago
▲ 14 r/remotework

Promotion offer comes with unexpected requirement to be in the office 4 days per week

My partner is a low level supervisor in a government agency. They commute 3 days per week, 80 minutes round trip.

Recently, they interviewed for the next level of supervisor position, and they have been offered the job. At the interview, they learned that the position requires 4 days in the office per week. This would be a significant decrease in quality of life.

The salary increase is 6%, which seems decent for a government job until you look at the greatly increased responsibility and consider that they would have to work both jobs until their replacement is hired, which could take 6 months or longer.

They enjoy their workplace, and their current supervisor is great. My partner doesn’t want to leave and would like to negotiate a more flexible schedule to make accepting the job more agreeable. As things stand, the agency will benefit more than my partner.

We would really appreciate any ideas on alternative schedules to counter with and how to effectively negotiate. Ultimately, they are leaning towards declining if the schedule truly is 4 days in the office, and they think their job would not be in peril if they did say no.

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u/tartoftomes — 23 days ago