Strategies and Methods for Requesting Remote Work from Your Employer: Advice and Techniques
In today's digital age, remote work has become a growing trend, offering numerous benefits for both employees and employers. A recent study by Great Place to Work® reveals a two-year survey of over 800,000 employees at Fortune 500 companies, showing increased productivity as a result of remote work.
For employees, the appeal of remote work is evident. The average American worker spends 26 minutes commuting each day, adding up to about 200 hours per year. This time could be better spent on personal pursuits or simply enjoying a more balanced lifestyle.
Remote work can save companies up to $11,000 per half-time remote worker per year due to increased productivity, lower real estate expenditures, and reduced absenteeism and turnover. It also enhances catastrophe readiness, allowing businesses to continue operating during emergencies.
If you're considering asking your boss to allow you to work from home, here are some strategies backed by research and best practices:
1. Understand Company Policies and Expectations: Familiarise yourself with any existing policies or precedents regarding remote work within your company. Ensure you understand what your employer expects from remote work arrangements, including productivity levels and communication protocols.
2. Highlight Benefits to the Company: Emphasise how working from home can increase productivity and efficiency, as it often reduces office distractions. Mention potential cost savings for the company, such as reduced overhead costs for office space. Explain how a better work-life balance can lead to happier, more engaged employees.
3. Emphasise Personal Benefits: If applicable, you can mention health reasons or family commitments that make working from home necessary, while ensuring you can meet deadlines. Highlight how working from home can reduce stress related to commuting and improve overall well-being.
4. Offer Solutions and Flexibility: Suggest regular virtual meetings or check-ins to maintain transparency and ensure open communication. Propose using specific performance metrics that can be monitored remotely to ensure accountability. Be open to agreeing on core working hours and flexibility to accommodate different time zones or work styles.
5. Demonstrate Commitment and Responsibility: Show that you are proactive and willing to take on more responsibility while working remotely. Highlight your past performance and any instances where you have successfully managed remote tasks.
By framing your request in a way that addresses both company and personal benefits, you can make a strong case for working from home effectively. If your request is denied, consider looking for a new job that is more conducive to remote work.
Remote work has become a possibility for many people across different professions due to technological advances. If your company doesn't have a remote work policy, you can still ask your boss to let you work from home. Best practices for working from home include establishing clear boundaries, over-communicating, being flexible, staying disciplined, and focusing on your work.
References: [1] Great Place to Work®. (2021). Remote Work Survey 2021. Retrieved from https://www.greatplacetowork.com/remote-work-survey [2] Gallup. (2020). State of the American Workplace Report 2020. Retrieved from https://www.gallup.com/workplace/260329/state-american-workplace-report-2020.aspx [3] Buffer. (2020). State of Remote Work 2020. Retrieved from https://buffer.com/state-of-remote-work-2020 [4] Harvard Business Review. (2020). The New Rules of Remote Work. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2020/03/the-new-rules-of-remote-work [5] Forbes. (2020). The Future of Work: Remote Work is Here to Stay. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2020/05/27/the-future-of-work-remote-work-is-here-to-stay/?sh=39c677186560
In the realm of personal pursuits and a balanced lifestyle, home-and-garden projects could be an ideal way for employees to make use of the time saved from commuting when working remotely. With many companies realizing potential cost savings and increased productivity, the adaptation of a home-and-garden lifestyle could become an attractive perk for remote workers.
