Dear
Helen:
I would
like to start teleworking from home one day a week but I don't know how
to approach my boss about it. Do you have any suggestions that will help
me make a convincing case?
Making the case
Dear Making the case:
Teleworking,
even just one or two days a week, is a way to find greater work/life balance
as well as reduce congestion on our roads. It also can be very beneficial
to employers and that is what you need to focus on in selling your boss
on the idea.
First and foremost,
you need to be honest in deciding if you are self-motivated and would
be a good teleworker. If so, the next step is to write a proposal that
will convince your boss.
Here are a few things
you'll want to include:
- What's in it for the company? Increased productivity? Shared office
space? Retention of a valued employee?
- What day(s)
will you telework? Look at your appointment schedule and workload
to determine which days are best for you to be out of the office.
- Do you have
the necessary equipment already, or will you or your company have
to provide it?
- How will you
maintain your accessibility to co-workers and your boss during office
hours?
- How will you
be connected to the office? Can you file share or dial in to the company's
LAN from home?
- What kind of
work do you expect to be able to do from home?
- If child or
elder care is a necessity for you, what arrangements have you made
for this?
- How do you propose
to be accountable for the work you do on your telework days?
Providing a convincing
argument complete with answers to each of these points will have you
commuting on the information superhighway faster than you can say "stalled
vehicle on SR520!"
HOV
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