Here is a list of some of the things you should have before approaching your boss:
- Proof of increased productivity You need to show your boss that it makes more sense to telework than it does to work in the office. One of the strongest reasons you can give is an increase in productivity outside of the office.
How you will collect this evidence is completely up to you, however I would recommend using progress reports with dates of when you might have been working away from the office.
- Proof of teleworking ability This will be shown in progress reports that show sustained or improved productivity while you are reportedly away from the office. You may also point out situations or problems that you managed to handle successfully (and quickly) while working remotely.
- Clear reasons why productivity is increased away from the office
On reporting improved productivity, you also need to state why you were more productive. Reasons can include being at home where you are more relaxed, have more space to work, good lighting and perhaps an additional monitor or two to work. These are all good reasons for recognizing improved productivity.
If you have a boss who is so unreasonable that he insists that you are making it up, I would recommend doing more research to find actual scientific statistics showing how all the reasons you have given indicate that they actually do improve productivity in workers.
At this stage, it is also important to state your personal reasons if you have any. These reasons may include feeling happier with the flexible time and feeling more relaxed. If you have already been noted as a good employee then expressing personal fulfillment will be taken seriously by your boss.
- Any other reasons you can think of
- Saving time on commute, not having to spend an hour or more each day traveling back and forth from office which allows you to work more
- More time to spend with family and kids, especially if you have a spouse who also works
- Improved cost savings on petrol and car maintenance in the long run
- Reduced risk of getting into a car accident (if you drive long distance)
- Reduced costs on company for floor space and electricity
- Reduction of carbon footprint for both you and the company by using less power and travelling less
Most bosses fear the same thing with teleworkers, and that is a deterioration of communication and ability to manage. If this is a fear your boss has, explain to them how you overcame these issues during your trials. Also state that in emergencies, you may come into the office and also state how in the past, emergencies rarely occur and that you have developed remote solutions to deal with most difficult situations when they occur.
Sometimes the best way to lead into a conversation is with a question. Instead of asking for the opportunity to telework, try asking if the company has any existing policies on teleworking.
This allows you to get a better overview of the teleworking situation in your company and allows you to adjust your arguments accordingly.
If you feel that your boss will instantly jump the gun and say there is no way in hell you’ll be allowed to telework at all, ask him to hear you out. At this stage, you need to be prepared to either quit or get fired.
A point of note, employers (in most countries) cannot fire you without a good reason.
They especially cannot fire you if you are trying to propose ideas that allow you to improve the productivity of the company.
If the boss sees through your plan, and is only bent on refusing you simply to make you unhappy, you have 2 options:
- Quit
- Take your case to a higher authority in your company who will see your point and recognizes that your boss is being illogical and unreasonable
Some of you might be thinking that you dare not do anything to make your boss look bad by going over their head. The truth is this can be a real possibility if they choose to be unreasonable.
At times like this, you will need to reassess your reasons for wanting out of the office, and ask yourself what you are willing to do in order to achieve that goal.
Remember, everything you would have worked on up to now is to prevent yourself from getting fired or having to quit, even if you make requests that require your boss or superiors to go out on a limb a little bit.
You are a commando, not a foot soldier. You are a specialist with special training and skills that gets the job done, has the wage that is the same or slightly higher than the average foot soldier and is not easily replaced.
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Yasuo Long believes that all employees should have the right to design their lifestyle according to their needs in order to maintain their health, their relationships and their happiness. In pursuit of this, he quit the 9-to-5 and became a telecommuter to give himself the time and mental freedom to discover what it really means to live with direction and purpose.
