Alexandra in Corte Madera writes, “I've been working for a company the past 4 years and my performance has been excellent. Our company was acquired last year and we moved to offices that are about 40 miles from my home. At the time of the move our manager told us that after a few weeks we would have the chance to telecommute a couple of days a week. Our team was later reorganized and I now report to another manager. Most of my colleagues are enjoying telecommuting but my new boss has not approved it for me, in spite of my excellent work. The commute is really becoming a problem for me. I like my job but if I can't get some relief I will have to look for a job closer to home. How can I share this with my boss without hurting my career? Help.”
The California Bay Area is an extraordinarily beautiful place to live, offering stunning vistas, museums and restaurants. Unfortunately we allow have some wicked traffic, especially if a commute includes several miles through the city. It's easy to see why telecommuting, even a couple of days a week, carries such appeal. Here are some tips for an employee with good performance in making a telecommuting request to a reluctant manager.
One, make sure your new manager is aware that your excellent work performance has been consistent over time. Collect your previous reviews and create a demonstrative time line in support then review it with your boss.
Two, be prepared to lay out a plan for telecommuting success with your boss. Talk about your home office staging, your self/time management skills and the way you would balance in office work with working from home to meet all expectations of your job. Assuage and logistical fears your manager may have about the arrangement by project managing the process. If your company has a remote working policy or agreement, review that with your manager.
Three, suggest to your manager that you begin with baby steps to be sure the arrangement works for everyone. Pick a weekday (try and stay away from ones with recurring meetings with your manager) and agree to that day for the first 4 to 8 weeks. Make sure you set an expectation that if things are successful you'll agree on 1 to 2 additional work-from-home days at that time.
Four, go over and above to be available and responsive on the days you work from home. Show your boss that you will keep up the high quality of your work away from the office. Use all available technology to stay in communication with your boss, coworkers and customers/clients.
Five, if you just can't convince your boss to give you a chance to show telecommuting can be successful for you speak with human resources. It is better to let HR know that the situation has you reluctantly considering a job change then your boss. A manager might see it as an ultimatum or may write you off as being unreliable for future projects, assuming you will leave.
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