Over the last couple of years, many employees began working from home and appreciated the flexibility that it offers. But what do you do if your employer wants you back at the office? In this article, we explain how you can successfully ask your boss to allow you to continue working remotely.
Step 1: Explain Your Reasons for Wanting to Work from Home
Explaining your reasons is vital when making pretty much any request. It lends weight to your request by making it personal and gives the listener an opportunity to consider your unique circumstance. So, really think about why remote working is a better alternative for you than working from the office. When listing out your reasons, pick those that have an obvious benefit for the organization as well. For instance, you could say you work a lot better when you have access to a quiet, focused space, and workplace distractions hinder your productivity. Data is great here – provide real-life examples that show how you’ve been able to effectively manage your time while working from home.
Step 2: Explain the Details
Now that you’ve covered the why, you’ve got to detail how you intend to go about working from home. That includes covering all the particulars about working remotely and showing your employer you’ve thought about potential complications.
Some practicalities to cover in your conversation include:
- What days of the week you wish to work remotely
- How your team can reach you during this time
- How quickly you can get back to your manager or co-workers in case of an emergency
- Where you will work (e.g., a library, a home office, or a shared workspace)
- What you will do if you have a power outage or if the internet is down
The goal is to show your manager they can count on you even if you are working remotely.
Step 3: Check if Your Manager Is Open to A Trial
If your employer wants everyone back at the office, they may be hesitant to allow only a few employees to continue working remotely. But you can ease them into the idea of it (and prove to them how much more productive you are when working remotely) by way of a short trial. Ask them if you can work remotely for a few days to a few weeks, and then approach this conversation again. This period will help your manager understand that you are capable of responding to work calls and emails and meeting performance benchmarks even if you are not physically in the office.
