How to Bring up Becoming a Remote Employee
How to Bring up Becoming a Remote Employee
Q. My husband just got a job in another state. I really like the company I’m with, like the work I am doing, and wouldn’t mind avoiding a job search. How do I ask about becoming a virtual employee and working remotely, so that my boss says yes?A.
More and more companies are willing to accommodate employee’s requests to work at an Alternate Work Site (ATS) better known as from home, or remotely. Technology has supported these changes, and the increasing cost of real estate has added to companies higher interest in moving people out of the office.
If you are a highly skilled employee, with talents that would be very difficult and potentially costly to replace, your organization may be more willing to consider this situation. If your role can be filled with relative ease and cost, your chances of remote work decrease unless there is some other benefit to the company. Is there a benefit to them, or only for you? A woman I worked with was able to work remotely because her move was to another time zone. This allowed her to do work that was the ready for the traditional home office team when they started their day.
Look at history. Has your company done this already for employees? If so, in which roles, and why? Consider talking to the managers of the remote workers to explore the issues and process needed to make it successful.
To develop your presentation on why it would be a good idea for the company to allow you to work remotely, evaluate your reputation. Are you known as a high energy, self managed, high contributing employee? If not, you may want to reconsider even making your request. Most managers still wonder if ATS workers contribute as much as in office workers . If you are a high performer, move ahead
Evaluate your daily activities, honestly. What percent of the work you do is based on the phone, via email, face to face, or in meetings . Is it better for you to be close by colleagues, or does it matter? Do you need or supply information quickly because you are an extension # or a quick walk away? Is it easier for your manager to have you on site?
Be prepared. What will the downsides be? Assess any challenges the organization will face, and show how you can eliminate or minimize those issues. Document the technology resources that would be available to you in your new home office, and explain how the dog, the child, the whatever personal situation won’t be a distraction. List what resources you would need from the company and any associated costs
Offer to try it out during a transition period. One way to address everyone’s concerns, yours and your managers, is to try it out on a temporary basis. Are you sure you want to work alone 8 hours a day? Are you sure being at home will be engaging enough for you to feel part of a larger organization? If you have done it before and know what you are in for, you may be more convincing to your manager.
You may prove that you are an effective employee from outside of the office. This will allow your boss to evaluate you as a remote employee without committing to anything. If you prove to be effective from outside of the office, your boss may be more receptive to the idea of working remote full time.
Working from home has become more and more common in recent year—and for good reason. Effective telecommuters can benefit the business while accommodating themselves. Do some research, be prepared, and stay positive. Even a “no” right now may change in the future. Never burn a bridge
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com