Make Your Case for Teleworking
Convince the Boss that Telecommuting is Good for the Company
Aug 22, 2009
Working from home is a dream that many workers share. No commute, no boss hovering in the background making sure the work is done, no dress code, flexibility to work at different times depending on productivity levels. Telecommuting is a term that is being used interchangeably with teleworking (a fairly new term that sounds more like working). Teleworking is something that can be the answer for many to that dream of working from home.
Reality Check
First of all, it is not often a job will start out being a teleworking job. It is much easier to present a well researched plan to convert a traditional job into a teleworking one than it is to find a job that already has a teleworking component.Secondly, it is important to note that the best of both worlds can be achieved by working in the office two or three days a week, and working from home the rest of the time. In fact, the national average for teleworking is two days a week at home, three days at the office.
Virtual Work Schedules Should Fit the Job
Creating a winning proposal for the boss will take some work. Gather as much information as possible that shows telecommuting is a productive method of getting the work done. There are many free articles at Gil Gordon's Telecommuting Website that can help build the case for teleworking. Some things to keep in mind while preparing the proposal:
- Is teleworking really something that can be done? Is working with minimal or no supervision something the worker can commit to? Does the boss see the worker as a self-starter who can take a project and run with it? Someone who telecommutes should be well organized and an excellent time manager, someone who is a proven performer.
- Look carefully at the job functions. Can they be done from a distance? Does the employee need to be present for meetings or can the meetings be run virtually? For more questions to ask, go to Can You Telecommute? a Website with great ideas and questions to ask to evaluate a position and employee for the possibility of teleworking.
Convince the Boss
Once the research is done, and the questions are all answered satisfactorily, it is time to go to the boss and present the proposal. Following are some tips that will help make this a successful presentation.
- Plan the proposal so that it is not just a written paper, but includes a live presentation as well. By doing both the boss has the opportunity to absorb the written ideas as well as listen and raise questions during the verbal presentation. Of course, it goes without saying that any questions asked will be immediately answered.
- Be sure to tout the benefits to the company, not necessarily the benefits to the employee. In this case, the fewer personal reasons for asking to telecommute the better. Focus on how telecommuting will make the boss's life easier, how the company will benefit and how much more productivity will be realized. Of course, be ready to back up all of this with facts and figures.
- Explain the traits that a teleworker needs to have and show how the employee embodies these traits. Talk about accomplishments and contributions made to the company by the employee. In short, show the boss how valuable the employee is.
- Propose a trial period. If the boss knows that this is going to happen for a short time, he or she may be more receptive.
- Other points to bring up in the presentation include accountability measures, schedules, equipment, and a description of the proposed home work place.
Don't Give Up
If the proposal is turned down, try a different approach. Volunteer to finish up a project at home over a weekend to show that work can be done away from the office. Negotiate for fewer days teleworking to start, say, one day every other week. If that proposal is accepted, work up to more days teleworking. As a final result, if teleworking is something that is important to the worker and the company is not bending on its no-telecommuting policy, it may be time to seek employment elsewhere.
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