RoxanneTelecommuting is quite common, as a 2016 Gallup study found that 43 percent of employed people spent at least part of their schedule working from home. Now, especially after COVID-19 shutdowns, that number is probably even higher, and it could continue to grow in the future.
While remote work can come in handy during a pandemic where health and safety is a priority, it offers several benefits for you, the employee, no matter what’s going on in the world.
Working from home can give you a greater feeling of satisfaction with your job. It can lead to more flexibility with your schedule, which is especially important if you have kids. It can also create an improved work-life balance. And lastly, remote work can result in more money in your pocket due to reduced transportation costs.
How can you enjoy these benefits if you currently work in an office? By asking your boss to let you work from home, which is what these steps will help you do.
1. Do your research to produce a compelling argument.
Remember that you’re trying to convince your boss as to how transitioning to remote setup benefits them, not you. Keeping this in mind, you need to find data that shows the following benefits for your boss:
- Increased employee productivity when working from home.
- How much departments can save by moving to a remote work environment.
- How remote work helps businesses.
So that your employer can make this move with the least work involved, also research remote work policies that other companies have instituted. Find ones that you like and that fit your vision, and your boss may accept them and apply them to your situation.
For professionalism and to show you’re truly serious, it’s best to present this info in a PowerPoint presentation or something similar that’s easy to digest.
2. Prove your worth.
The first step shows your boss the benefits of remote work. This second step should show them why you deserve such a setup.
Have you always showed up on time? Do you barely take sick days? Is your performance better than your peers? Any positives in your favor should be showcased to show your value and trustworthiness as an employee.
The more valuable you appear to be and the more your boss can trust you, the better your chance of getting to work from home.
3. Explain your desire to work from home.
Now comes the sales pitch of your presentation. You have to come up with convincing reasons as to why you want to work from home instead of at the office.
Explain how you’ll be more productive. Describe how you’ll have more energy and focus on work once a long commute isn’t involved. Whatever the reasons, stress how they’ll add to the company’s bottom line and make your employer’s job easier.
4. Make a sample schedule.
Will you only be available at certain hours? Will specific slots be set aside for calls and video chat? What will a typical day look like at your home office?
The more you can help your boss visualize the move, the more likely they’ll see it as a smooth transition and a solid decision.
5. Ask for a trial run.
You can’t expect your employer to simply say yes to such a significant change without trying it out first. Ask if you can do a three-month trial run to see how the new setup works out for both parties.
Who knows? You may prefer being in the office once that trial run is over.
