Photo courtesy of Sanja Gjenero (sxc.hu)
According to a study sponsored by The Telework Advisory Group, more than 17 million Americans performed some or all of their work from home as of 2008. This data shows a 74 percent increase in telecommuters since the year 2005. Even more astonishing is the fact that an estimated 44 percent of US companies allow their employees to telecommute.
This is good news for workers with job duties that lend themselves well to working from home. However, even if you aren’t working for a company that explicitly offers telecommuting options, you still may be able to persuade your boss that you can make it work by creating a convincing telecommuting proposal.
Is Telecommuting Right for You?
Before you begin with your proposal for telecommuting, you should ensure that you’ll have a strong case. If your job requires little to no supervision and can be performed alone and without special equipment, you may have a shot. Writers, editors, programmers, and analysts are all good positions for working at home.
If by taking your work home, you would cause delays in the work flow or additional work for others, telecommuting may not be a good choice. Also, jobs requiring frequent interaction with co-workers may not be suitable. Take stock of your job duties first, and determine if you could be a productive employee while working from home before breaching the subject.
Drafting a Telecommuting Proposal
First, make a list of the primary points of your telework proposal. Listed below are the key factors you should consider.
Determine the arrangements which will best meet your needs.
- How many days per week do you propose to telecommute? How many hours per week would you be available on site and how many hours from home?
- Which duties do you propose to perform at home? Are there some duties that can only be carried out at the business? Are there some duties which are more practical to complete at home?
- What compromises are you willing to make with your employer? Will you be available to come into work during telecommuting hours if needed? Will you temporarily suspend your work from home privileges during busy times?
Identify potential problems and offer solutions.
- How will you keep in touch with your supervisors and clients? Will you be available via telephone, email, or both, or do you have other methods in mind?
- How will you present work, reports, etc, in a timely manner? Will you come to the office once or twice per week to drop off work, or more often?
Present the ways in which your telecommuting will benefit the company.
- Will you work a longer number of hours for the company? Will you be able to work more productively in a home office environment?
- Will your absence from the office allow more space and resources to be freed for other workers?
- Are there any other benefits to your working from home that might help convince your company?
Once you’ve addressed all the possible problems your shift to telecommuting might cause, and all those concerns you anticipate from your employer, then you’re ready to create and present your telecommuting proposal. Create a presentation that you can work from, and request a meeting with your supervisor. Listen to what he has to say, and if needed, revise your plan and compromise. If you really want to telecommute, you may need to ask for a trial period in which the company can monitor the effectiveness of the plan.
Sample Telecommuting Proposal
Although using a telecommuting proposal template can be a great way to form the rough outline of your own proposal, keep in mind that you’ll need to significantly personalize the content in order to be effective. The following sample telecommuting proposals are available for your viewing, but use them only as a loose basis for your own:
If your employer denies your first telecommuting proposal, don’t be discouraged. Rework your proposal and try again in six months. Many companies are beginning to offer telecommute positions and yours may need more time to absorb the information. If all else fails and you are determined to work from home, begin the search for a company that will accommodate your needs.
For more information on telecommuting: Visit The Telework Advisory Group for WorldatWork or The Telework Coalition.
Comments
Great site with lots of great information. I have been working from home for over 5 years now and am making decent money. For more information on working from home and listing of available opportunities, please visit work place like home.org
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