How to Negotiate Working from Home
Flexible Work Arrangements a Viable Alternative to Office-Based Work
Nov 13, 2008
Many employees would like the flexibility of working from home occasionally - the good news is that times are changing and companies are embracing alternative work arrangements. However, before knocking on the manager’s door with a work-from-home request, employees should consider the benefits of such an arrangement, both to themselves and to the company.
If the company has a work from home policy, employees should read it and check for any requirements that may restrict their ability to qualify for such an arrangement.
Benefits to Consider
Most companies recognize the numerous benefits to be gained by implementing flexible work arrangements where possible. Some of these benefits include:
- Higher productivity
- Better employee morale and loyalty
- An increased ability for the company to attract and retain qualified people
- Better use of office space and lower office-related costs
- Greater flexibility in the employee’s ability to perform their work while balancing work and personal needs
- Lower work-related expenses for the employee
- Reduced employee stress which can lead to a decrease in the number of short term disability claims
Challenges to Consider
While the benefits are evident, the reality is that there are also many challenges the management must carefully consider before approving such work arrangements. Some of these challenges include:
- The manager’s ability to remotely supervise the employee
- The costs of setting up an appropriate and confidential work space within the employee’s home
- The specific job requirements
- The employee’s reduced interaction with co-workers
- The employee’s access to required technology and equipment
Once the benefits and challenges of working from home have been identified, employees should also consider whether their particular type of work is suitable for such an arrangement. Unfortunately, not all jobs are created equal when it comes to working from home. In some cases, no matter how willing the manager and the employee are, the type of work the employee does will require a formal office-based environment.
Jobs Suitable for Flexible Work Arrangements
If a job meets the characteristics outlined below, chances are it would be suitable for a flexible work arrangement:
- Job requires independent work
- Job requires limited face-to-face interaction
- Work outcomes are visible, specific, and easy to measure (i.e. project work)
- Performance can be monitored based on results, rather than amount of time spent doing the job
Employees Suitable for Flexible Work Arrangements
While job characteristics are critical in determining suitability for flexible work arrangements, another key factor to be considered has to do with the employee’s skills, characteristics, and work habits. These are some of the things a manager will likely consider, and so should employees:
- Is the employee organized and able to manage their time efficiently?
- Is the employee self-motivated and do they have good communication skills?
- Does the employee have sufficient job knowledge to work independently?
- Does the employee regularly meet deadlines and do they need a lot of support, follow-up and constant supervision?
- Does the employee meet or exceed job expectations?
Many organizations will consider work from home arrangements when feasible for the company and their employees. While this option does not apply universally to each business or employee, it is definitely worth exploring, if not on a permanent basis, at the very least on an occasional or temporary basis. To ensure employees are successful in convincing their manager to allow them to work from home, they should consider the factors above and build their case by addressing potential challenges and anticipating their manager’s questions.
 |
