How to Convince Your Boss to Let You Telecommute
If you are looking for a job that will allow you to telecommute, start with your current employer. Rather than taking the chance on something new, you may be able to convince your boss to let you work from home all or some of the time.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Develop a plan for how you would work from home. Don't just go in and ask your boss, hoping she will agree. Think of everything your boss might question ahead of time, from accountability for hours to cost savings to how you will attend group meetings or interact with clients.
-
2
Convince your boss that your productivity will increase rather than decrease. Some employers may still see working from home as an excuse to slack off. If you have a long commute, for example, explain to your boss how those hours could be put to more productive use. TechRepublic notes that in a March 2008 issue of "The TeleWorker" American Express predicted its telecommuting employees were 43 percent more productive than its office workers.
-
-
3
Explain to your boss how telecommuting will keep you at your current job. Maybe you are considering leaving your job to spend more time with your kids or to care for an elderly relative. Telecommuting would help you incorporate those things into your workday.
-
4
Point to statistics. Your boss may be more convinced if she knows that telecommuting is part of the modern workplace. TechRepublic notes that WorldatWork estimates at least 12.4 million workers in the US telecommute at least one day per month.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If your boss will not agree to full-time telecommuting, you may be able to bargain for one to three days per week.
Unless you are a highly valued employee, focus on how the change will benefit the company, rather than how it will benefit you.
As with any job negotiation don't give an ultimatum, like threatening to quit, unless you can afford to carry through on it.
References
- Photo Credit David Sacks/Lifesize/Getty Images
