Before the pandemic, most of us were unaware of just how relaxing, refreshing, and productive it could be to work from home.
Although WFH has been more of a need than leisure, there are a number of workers who’ve actually become accustomed to the lifestyle and have even found themselves being more productive in their work. These employees feel better than they used to do back during regular office days.
Now that vaccinations are in full swing, it seems like offices are prepared to call their employees back in, and try to establish a new normal office procedure. And if you’re here reading this article, then we can make an educated guess about what you’re thinking. You want to find a way to continue working from home without appearing lazy, unmotivated, or uncommitted.
Can You Convince Your Boss?
If you go to your boss and just blatantly ask them to allow you to work from home, you might receive a big fat ‘no’. Why? Because instead of convincing your boss and getting them on the same page as you, you might do the opposite.
Perhaps you’ll make WFH sound like a holiday for your whole family. Maybe you will give the impression that you’re thinking about leaving the job. In doing so, your boss might mistake your suggestion as a sign you’re slowly drifting away from the organisation. Before you proceed with the conversation, take some time to consider the following tips.
There’s no need to put out a desperate plea to your boss, asking them to just let you do it your way. You can instead plan a more strategic talk with your boss and get a permanent WFH contract, or at least a long-term extension to your current working situation.
How to Talk to Your Boss to Let You Work From Home
Here are the first steps that’ll help you talk to your boss in a professional, yet convincing manner:
Be Clear About Your Motive
Remember, you’re not doing anything wrong. Just like it’s okay to ask for an extended leave or a raise or a promotion, it’s also okay to ask for WFH according to your workplace policies. So, when you enter your boss’s office, make sure you’re very clear about what you want and why. Instead of being suggestive and unclear, you need to ensure that you communicate openly with your boss.
- Don’t say this: “I was wondering how much longer I can still receive work from home benefits.”
- Say this instead: “Hey, I’ve been thinking about how WFH suits my career, so I’d like to talk to you about keeping it that way from now on.”
Present Why WFH Is Beneficial for you
Next, you should try to help your boss understand how working from home has helped you develop your career far more than you thought possible.
Has it improved your mental health? Has it helped you manage your finances better? Maybe working from home is much more peaceful, and hence more productive? For every strategic reason you provide, it’s quite possible that your boss will move one step closer to allowing you to continue WFH.
- Don’t say this: “I just feel like my sleep schedule is much better, so I feel more relaxed while working from home.”
- Say this instead: “Here’s a timeline of how I’ve progressed over the years while working with you, and look, my progress has been exponential during the work from home phases.”
Tip: Don’t just talk about the perks you have in WFH, but also have some hard evidence to present to your boss.
Explain How Your WFH Benefits Your Workplace
The next phase of your conversation should link your personal and professional WFH benefits with the greater good of the organisation. In simpler words, you may explain to your boss everything that’s beneficial for them if they permit you to continue to work from home.
This may include an overall cost breakdown and comparison to show how you’re working from home costs lesser organisational resources. You can also talk about how your increased efficiency during WFH can get more accomplished than your regular office presence.
- Don’t say this: “You see, working from home allows me to take more naps, and that increases my productivity.”
- Instead, say this: “By working from home, I deal with fewer disruptions, and I can easily communicate everything with my colleagues through online coordination apps.”
Conclusion
Getting your boss to allow you to WFH isn’t as risky as it seems. In fact, if you follow this three-step plan, you can surely negotiate a suitable WFH arrangement within one or two meetings with your higher-ups.
If you would like a more detailed analysis of what the market trends and demands are including salary, WFH flexibility, and more, download our free report here.
Author: Alex Cole is a Specialist Building Services Recruiter with Responsum. He’s always interested in networking with Building Service professionals. He loves talking football, is hoping to get on the property ladder soon, and visits Tenerife every year!
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