'Work from home' or 'Telecommuting' is a preferred option as it provides flexibility and the comfort of being at home and work for the office. Working from home is becoming increasingly popular in the U.S. as employers have started to shred the skepticism that was once prevalent, and have realized the mutual benefits that are accrued in exercising the option. According to a 2016 study by consultancy PWC, around 38% of workers in the United States can work from home at least one day a week. The number is a fourfold increase when compared with the statistics of 1995.
According to two-third of the managers interviewed during the survey, granting employees the permission to work from home is at their discretion. So it can be inferred that even though it is an open option, it still requires convincing your manager or boss in a way that it serves in the best interest of both the parties.
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| Convince Your Boss to Start Letting You Work From Home |
1. Self Assessment :
Convincing your boss can be a difficult task. Before you pitch the idea, it is important that you weigh all the factors at play and come up with ideas that would make a solid argument. The first thing you must be contemplating upon is the 'type of work'. If it is a desk job and can be carried out using nominal means such as a computer and perhaps an internet connection, then it will be a lot easier for you to justify your situation, as working from home becomes an option that is feasible in your case. On the contrary, if the job mandates you to work in a team, in that case, you might have a hard time convincing your boss.
2. Give Reasons That Are Mutually Beneficial :
In the majority of the cases, the reasons that are cited for 'work from home' option are personal and serve only the employee's interests. If the reasons that you quote are travel flexibility, and spending more time with you kids and family, there is a chance that you might fail in convincing your boss and would also imply a lack of interest. Therefore, it is a point worth contemplating upon, and instead you should give reasons that are mutually beneficial. For example, according to a study, remote workers tend to be more productive as they work in a more familiar environment and are more engaged in their work. So it can yield productive results and also help you in keeping up your end of the bargain.
3. Address All The Concerns :
Your boss might have concerns of you losing touch with your colleagues thereby affecting the overall performance. Hence, it is important that you assert him while addressing these concerns. And also ensure him of your availability in important meetings and during emergency.
4. Ask For A Trial Period :
Demanding flexibility to work from home' over the entire week can raise a lot of questions as it can nudge other employees in following the suit. Therefore, try convincing your boss on working remotely only on a trial basis initially. Demanding a day or two for the same can be an option worth exploring and would be a reasonable to ask. On the other hand, it also provides you the opportunity to prove your mettle. If you perform at the expected level and demonstrate productivity, you might be given a green signal.
5. Demonstrate Results :
Once you have got the green signal from your boss make sure that you don't fail him and try giving your best. Make sure you answer all the calls and respond to e-mails and messages. By responding to such protocols you can ensure that you remain available as you were earlier, and show that there aren't any setbacks in working from a remote location. Further, enhancing your productivity is possible by setting up an environment in your home, which is conducive for working. Besides making changes in the physical environment try maintaining a working schedule that suits you, and make sure it doesn't cause inconvenience to your family.
Studies have regularly pointed out that working from home can be good for your health and productivity. A Stanford University research conducted on employees of a Chinese travel agency concluded that employees who worked from home showed a 13% surge in their performance, while performance of the people who stayed in the office remained the same. The employees working from home reported a greater work satisfaction and less 'work exhaustion'. So the research that was conducted is a testament of surge in productivity as well as job satisfaction amongst the employees. Given the multi-faceted gains that telecommuting offers, it is an option worth pursuing on the part of employees as well as the employers.
