How to convince your boss to let you telecommute
Posted
Sep 16 2008, 01:14 PM
by
Karen Datko
Rating:
David G. Mitchell at Saving Advice is an expert telecommuter. A man ahead of his time, he's been doing it for eight years. So who better to explain how we can all convince our bosses to let us work at home.
Some of his 16 arguments on behalf of telecommuting are obvious: If you're working at home, you avoid those little personality conflicts that can become major workplace distractions -- and those nasty office politics.
Others are less so: You will actually get a lot more work done if you're doing it at home. Now, that's something that will get the boss's attention.
This is particularly true if you're on a salary. But we can confirm that it applies if you're paid an hourly wage. When we're working freelance jobs that pay by the hour, we use a portable kitchen timer to keep track of our time, and we routinely turn it off when we have to make a pit stop (or put a load of laundry in the washer). The bossman is paying for unadulterated work time.
Plus, you're not taking half a day off to wait for the cable guy if you're already working at home. You can check your work e-mail on Saturday or in the middle of the night, getting needed responses back to co-workers much quicker.
Snow day? Hey, you're still working. You're sick? You can sniffle at home without infecting the rest of the staff.
Other advantages: Your company can relocate and you'll keep your job. It doesn't have to supply you with an office and parking space.
You're also reducing your carbon footprint. David says, "Companies that allow workers to telecommute are helping the environment, and that looks good to investors and to the public."
David also recommends some habits to develop before you approach the boss about the change, like being a hard worker and demonstrating loyalty to the company. "Your loyalty to your boss will ensure that your boss remains loyal to your home-office assignment," he says.
