Transitioning to a new job can be an exciting opportunity for growth and development in your career. However, if you are looking to work from home as part of your new job offer, it is essential to approach the subject professionally and effectively.
In many cases, you’ll probably be able to find a business case that supports a personal preference to work from home. For example, while you may personally enjoy no longer having to commute, it actually gives you more free time to handle personal matters, which can enable you to be more focused and productive during work hours. Bring in other members of your household who may be impacted by your decision to work from home permanently.
Then, you can move to working from home regularly all five days per week later. Wednesday and Friday would be ideal work from home days, since we don’t have any team-wide meetings. Of course, I can be completely flexible and come into the office if we ever do need face-to-face time, and I’ll be available by phone and email on work from home days, in case anything comes up.
The introduction explains why you’re asking from home and summarizes how it’ll benefit your manager and company—outline whether you’re proposing it as a trial, full-time, or part-time work from home arrangement. According to Global Workplace Analytics, employers save an average of $11,000 per year for each employee who works from home part-time. A more extreme example is Google, which saved over a billion dollars in 2021 due to remote work. Remote workers need to motivate themselves, decide on what to focus on each day, and lose a lot of structure in their day.
Be Transparent and Honest
Acknowledge that you’re willing to make yourself available to take on the work of others if there is another surge of coronavirus cases during reopening. As you build your case for working from home permanently, think about how you’ll set goals with your boss, communicate progress and measure outcomes. Doing this research will show you’ve thought about how to make this temporary situation effective in the long term, and how it can continually be a good thing for your employer. “Just like any other conversation, you have to make a business case for it,” Steele Flippin says. “You want to make sure you demonstrate you’re still going to be accountable and responsive. If everyone goes back to the office and you’re still remote, show that you’ll be just as productive.”
It would be best to get a rough idea of how standard working from home is in your industry or field of expertise. Investigate to find any departments where people are already working in such a setup in your organization. Understand how they negotiated remote working, their remote work setup, and try to utilize it to your benefit. Thus, actively implementing a work from home policy in their organization keeps their employees happy and satisfied, reduces the churn rate, and retains the best talent. Therefore, the inclusion of work from home policy is a win-win situation for all, as many employees are now asking to work remotely permanently.
If you want to work remotely or work in the office fewer days per week and feel that your manager and workplace are generally reasonable, you should begin that discussion and see what your manager says. Workers do not have a right to work from home, so if you were to insist on teleworking when your boss wanted you in the office, you could be fired. Global Workplace Analytics estimates that 56% of non-self-employed workers have a job that is compatible with remote work. Some employees may have underlying health conditions that the coronavirus could significantly and adversely affect.
When requesting to work from home with a new job offer, it is crucial to be transparent and honest about your reasons for wanting to do so. Clearly outline why working from home would benefit both you and the company, whether it be increased productivity, better work-life balance, or other factors that contribute to your success as an employee.
Highlight Your Track Record
One effective way to ask for the option to work from home with a new job offer is to highlight your track record of success and productivity in previous remote work situations. By demonstrating your ability to excel in a remote work environment, you can build confidence in your employer’s decision to grant your request.
Furthermore, emphasize your commitment to maintaining open communication and meeting deadlines while working from home to alleviate any concerns your employer may have about your remote work capabilities.
Suggest a Trial Period
If you are unsure how your new employer will respond to your request to work from home, consider suggesting a trial period to test the arrangement. This allows both parties to evaluate the feasibility of remote work and make adjustments as needed before committing to a long-term remote work agreement.
During the trial period, ensure that you remain accessible, responsive, and productive while working from home to showcase your ability to succeed in a remote work setting.
Seek Clarity on Expectations
Before finalizing any arrangements to work from home with a new job offer, seek clarity on expectations regarding communication, availability, deliverables, and performance evaluations. Establishing clear boundaries and objectives upfront can help ensure a successful transition to remote work and prevent any misunderstandings down the line.
By approaching the subject of working from home with professionalism, honesty, and a clear plan, you can increase your chances of securing the flexibility you desire with a new job offer. Remember to focus on the mutual benefits of remote work for both you and the company to make a compelling case for your request.
