'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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Professionals switching jobs is not a novel phenomenon. Given the opportunities that are available today, people are willing to hop jobs or wait until they land a job that offers them the right  opportunities and job satisfaction. However, the quest for an 'ideal job' may not be easy, and the person might end-up losing time thereby creating gaps in his/her work profile.

Graduates entering the workforce for the first time may find it difficult to land a job. The job search may take weeks or even months for entry-level jobs. In that case, the time that has elapsed during the search can be an impediment in your future endeavors as you would have a tough time mentioning it on a resume. Similarly, holding a number of different jobs during a short period of time can have a negative impression on the minds of the recruiters as you might be  labeled as a job-hopper, thereby ebbing your chances of fetching an interview. However, you can overcome all the shortcomings using a functional resume. Functional resumes typically rely on grouping skills into specific categories to demonstrate a candidate's qualifications and expertise for a particular job. They provide a skill-based focus on your profile, which can be used to conceal  the shortcomings that persist. This type of resume can also be helpful for people who were forced to quit their job in unavoidable circumstances such as death of a love one or treatment of an ill family member.

People who are in the process of moving from one job to the other are said to be fictionally unemployed. The period for unemployment can last for several months. While applying for a new job, providing details regarding your job history is critical. If the time period between quitting your previous job and applying for a new one exceeds over a several months or quarters, mentioning it on a resume will not serve in your best interest. It can raise a lot of questions in the mind of recruiters as you might appear lethargic and sedate in terms of your approach. You will certainly go through the ordeal of fending-off questions relative to it during  the interview. Therefore, it is advisable to mention the year in which you left your previous job without mentioning the month.

Even an entry-level job these days requires professionals with additional skills. In that case, a college degree won't suffice, thus the candidates are required to have additional certifications and skills that justify their credence for the job profile. However, in order to re-skill themselves, they have to undergo training and skill development programs that involve classroom training. The people who are out of work and are mandated to undergo additional training for securing a job are said to be structurally unemployed. The time involved in the training can be several months and can extend to a year. Therefore, it is advisable to mention the same in the skills section of the resume as it can enhance your chances in the interview and mitigate the adverse effects of being structurally unemployed.  No matter what profession you are trying to pursue or already in, check resume samples and know how to highlight your skills.

A cover letter is a document sent along with your resume. It is used as a tool to provide detailed information on why you are qualified for the job. However, it can be used as a bargaining chip by a candidate in case of gap in his/her employment. Providing a genuine reason in the cover letter along with a strong resume can be a good sales pitch.

A reference letter and a strong recommendation from your previous employer can be a silver lining if you are applying for a job after a long interval of time. A strong recommendation endorsing your skills and work ethic can be a boon. Therefore, getting a reference letter can tilt the odds in your favor.

Having a gap in your work history can put you in jeopardy. However, recruiters these days are aware of the situations that lead to such circumstances. Therefore, in genuine cases they do provide a leeway. Thus deploying the aforementioned means can help you meet the ends.

Organizations over the globe are grappling with low productivity. Subsequently, they have invested heavily in H.R. technologies that can help manage resources better and improve productivity. However, all the provisions are intended to solve problems of low productivity at a material level, and less emphasis is given at an individual level. A positive work environment is the most significant variable that drive productivity. It is a fundamental factor in achieving high level of growth and productivity since it can bring the best out of the employees, whereas a negative environment can do exactly the opposite thereby hampering the morale of the employees and impacting productivity negatively.

It is an undisputed fact that competition improves productivity. We have often come across examples of healthy competition across companies operating in the same vertical. But the outcome of the competition has yielded fruitful results. A healthy competition has nudged companies to be productive and improve their performance constantly. The competition is prevalent to the extent that companies launch new products of cutting edge-technology at the end of every quarter of a financial year (for example, smart phones). However, competition amongst counterparts is not the only way of nurturing productivity. Its prevalence within an organization can also be a boon when it comes to achieving high level of productivity. But in order to achieve that, it is imperative that the environment within the company is conducive for a healthy competition. If the workplace environment is engulfed with negativity, there is hardly any scope for a competitive environment. Also, an enmity amongst employees can make them adopt illicit means to stay ahead of their counterparts, with ethics taking a backseat and thereby putting their organization years back than rivals. Therefore, a healthy competition enhances productivity, and an unhealthy one impedes it.

Just like a single rotten mango in a crate spoils the rest; a negative person can do the same to the work environment. A negative attitude amongst the employees can be detrimental to a workplace as it radiates and creates an unproductive work environment. Such an attitude is detrimental as it also affects the people willing and capable of performing. With negativity brewing around a workplace, the probability of a person being acclaimed for his/her hard work and performance is zilch. Therefore, the person willing to perform doesn't have any credible incentive to show a progressive attitude and keep performing with the same attitude. This leads to lack of enthusiasm at a workplace, which takes a toll on productivity.

Companies today have to walk an extra mile when it comes to being innovative and retaining their existing customers. It is only possible to achieve the said goal if they have productive human capital. With people lacking the positive attitude at a workplace, it is difficult for them to be progressive in terms of their performance. Even if they have a think-tank which is wiling to implement new policies instrumental in improving productivity, a negative outlook of the people who actually operate on the grass root level can deter such initiatives. People with negative mindsets lack the will to perform in a responsible manner subsequently affecting the productivity.

A negative work environment is detrimental to an organization. But it is a challenge that can be surmounted with the right approach. Companies have to pro-actively draft policies, which can make the environment devoid of resentment and negativity amongst the employees. Since it is a two-way exchange, it is obligatory for the companies to have empathy towards its employees and create an environment that nurtures positivity.