How to Convince Your Boss That You Should Work From Home Forever
In connection with the recent surge in COVID infections , many jobs like never believe in the possibility of opening of new jobs. Many workers, however, are not so confused about where they will end up after returning to personal work; According to a Bloomberg poll, 40% of employees said they would consider quitting rather than giving up the privilege of working from home. And the perks abound – personally, I am in no hurry to get out of bed to go and watch a colleague eat a tuna sandwich.
Despite the ongoing uncertainty about the state of the pandemic, your boss may insist on returning to the office in person. How do you tell your boss that you plan on staying completely remote, especially if you don’t feel you have the power to make such a request? If you’ve already read how to make your work-from-home status permanent , here are some communication tips to talk to your boss directly.
Make the right plan for yourself
Check with your boss to schedule this discussion ahead of time based on their preferred communication method. Each boss has different preferences, but chances are good that you will want this chat through video. After all, you are trying to prove that you are as much (if not more) an asset by working remotely. Whenever possible, of course, avoid moments where your boss might be particularly concerned about goals and performance.
When planning this talk, be clear about your topic of discussion. For a clear but respectful wording, you might say that “you hope to discuss why working from home makes sense for productivity.” (More on this soon.)
With a plan in place, take the time to privately rehearse your talking points. (It never hurts to have a little chat with the man in the mirror .)
Focus on productivity
Your employer’s argument for going back to the office probably has to do with culture, collaboration and … perhaps synergy? Even if your main reason for working from home is personal, try to appeal to all the opportunities when telecommuting actually benefits the company. It comes down to your productivity.
Be prepared for specific cases of increasing your productivity after you move to remote work. Think about it: Has the lack of commuting gave you the energy to do more projects (and also saved the company money)? Is it easier to work with people in different time zones? Do you have specific examples of when you’ve been reliable and responsive? If you have specific numbers or metrics to justify your case, have them ready too.
You want your boss to feel that your remote status makes sense for the good of the company. After all, your employer probably cares more about productivity than morale. This is capitalism guys.
Be assertive, not aggressive
You can be clear about your position but still look like a respected employee. Even though you’re talking about all the ways you can be more productive remotely, you still want to maintain a tone that makes your boss as responsive and open to your requests as possible. Repeat your boss’s words as you speak to show that you are listening and understanding.
You can also balance an assertive yet respectful connection with body language such as eye contact – even during a video call .
Be honest about some of your motives.
Chances are, your boss knows that you’re looking for work from home for more than just company. If you have serious concerns about childcare, commuting and COVID, please let us know in advance. And if that makes sense in your relationship with your boss, consider asking them how they are feeling. Many – if not all – of our bosses are actually people, and they can respect your willingness to be a real person with them.
Keep an open mind
In any negotiation, you must be willing to compromise. Maybe you can opt for flexible working hours or a hybrid office / telecom model.
In the worst case, be prepared for the fact that you and your boss will not be able to come to an agreement and that it may be time to start looking for work elsewhere ( which your boss does not need to know about ). Fortunately, with a multitude of employees who share your worldview, your chances of finding a fully remote work place can be increased.