With in-person work resuming in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many employees have found they’d prefer to keep on working remotely. Others may be considering remote work as a viable alternative to their current office position.
Are you thinking about asking your manager to work from home full-time? Review these guidelines to find out how to start the conversation.
Make a Proposal
Drafting a formal proposal to request a shift to full-time remote work shows that you are serious about the request. It is also an opportunity for you to plot out some of the logistics of working from home.
Include information about your computer setup, how you would plan to attend team meetings and communicate with your coworkers, and any improvements or contributions your remote work could bring to your team.
Schedule a Meeting
Once you have your talking points in mind, reach out to your employer to schedule a time to talk. Since you’ll be conversing about a significant change in your work routine, it’s best to have the conversation face-to-face or over Zoom instead of on the phone.
Discuss Past Performance
Provide specific examples of how your work performance demonstrates that you can handle the responsibility of a full-time remote position.
Besides bringing up projects or assignments you completed while working remotely, you can touch on broader trends in your productivity and time management.
Address Potential Problems
During your conversation, acknowledge any potential issues that may occur if you work from home on a full-time basis.
By laying out a plan to prevent problems like technical barriers, security concerns, and communication gaps from derailing your work, you demonstrate that you are being proactive in your planning and have given the topic the thought it deserves.
Be an Active Listener
Once you’ve made your case, your manager may bring up concerns. Listen carefully and show that you are taking them seriously.
Your employer may ask for more time to consider your proposal. If this is the case, schedule a follow-up meeting. Let them know that you will be available to answer any questions in the meantime.
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