Request to Work from Home in Your Job
Working remotely is a very popular way to work for many people. About 60% of Americans can work from home at least one day a week. More than two-thirds can work from home for five days a week.
However, some companies do not have a work-from-home policy, and some may require you to make your case if you want to work remotely. Before you ask your manager for permission to work from home, there are some factors you should consider.
Are You Suitable for Working from Home?
Working from home is very different from working in the office. Before committing to working remotely, ensure you can adhere to it. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
Do you have self-discipline and organizational skills?
Do you have a suitable office space at home?
Do you have access to childcare services?
Does Your Job Suit Working from Home?
Not all jobs can be done from home. Some can only be done from home occasionally. Here are some things you can do to find out if your job can be completed from home:
Make a list of all your job duties.
Divide the list into tasks “that can be done from home” and tasks “that must be done in the office.”
Put Your Proposal to Work from Home in Writing
If you still wish to request working from home after your research, the next step is to prepare a proposal to work from home. A written document shows that you have put thought into your plan and provides something tangible for your employer to review.
Your proposal should include the information mentioned above:
Your value to the company
The benefits of your working from home for the company
Competitors’ policies, if any
Additionally, you will need these other sections:
Details of the work-from-home plan
Your proposal should mention the days and times you plan to work from home and the tasks you will be doing while away from the office. It should also indicate how the office will stay in touch with you and how your manager will know about the work you are doing. If you think you will need to be in the office, offer check-in periods when you can come into the office for a few days a month.
You can find many studies about remote work online showing cost savings and other benefits. If other companies in your industry have remote work programs, share that information as well. Also, look for webinar and online video chat services. You might suggest to your manager that they connect with you via live video if necessary, which may alleviate any concerns about your absence from the office.
Arguments to Overcome Anticipated Objections
Instead of waiting for your manager to ask, show that you understand potential objections and have found workable answers. This may help them feel more comfortable with the work-from-home arrangement.
Consider a Trial Period
Offer a trial period to test the remote work arrangement. Provide enough time to resolve any small issues but not so long that your employer would hesitate to try it. If your manager is still hesitant, consider reducing the time you request to work from home. If you requested full-time work from home, instead opt for working remotely three days a week. If everything goes well, you can ask for more time in the future.
Present Your Proposal in Person
Schedule a meeting with your manager to share your proposal. Be professional and use your proposal to highlight the main points of your plan. Be prepared to answer questions and have realistic expectations. An immediate decision is unlikely to be made. So, leave the proposal and schedule a follow-up to discuss the proposal and address any questions or concerns your manager may have.
Questions
The Circulating
Can you be fired for requesting to work from home?
In many workplaces, it doesn’t hurt to ask to work from home. But be prepared to hear the answer “no.” Workers don’t have an automatic legal right to work from home (unless you have a specific disability), so insisting on working from home may cause you problems at work. Make sure to get permission to work remotely before you start doing so. If you really want or need to work from home and your employer does not allow it, it might be time to look for a new job.
Will remote jobs disappear?
It doesn’t seem that companies will stop hiring remote workers or allowing their employees to work from home anytime soon. A study of 50,000 major employers in the U.S. and Canada showed that a quarter of all jobs are now permanently remote. There was a sharp increase in permanent remote jobs in the first quarter of 2022, exceeding researchers’ expectations, and they said it represents “a fundamental shift in attitudes.”
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Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/work-from-home-and-keep-your-day-job-1794768
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