{"id":69847,"date":"2019-11-14T09:19:09","date_gmt":"2019-11-14T14:19:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/?p=69847"},"modified":"2020-09-03T05:53:19","modified_gmt":"2020-09-03T09:53:19","slug":"how-do-i-ask-my-boss-to-let-me-work-remotely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/professional-development\/creativity-culture\/how-do-i-ask-my-boss-to-let-me-work-remotely","title":{"rendered":"How do I ask my boss to let me work remotely?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

As the space between work and not-work becomes ever more blurred, questions about how to do this thing we plug away at for 30 or 40 or 70 hours a week become all the more expansive. In <\/em>Work Flow<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, we delve into the novel dilemmas created by the new ways we work, as well as timeless questions about ethics, gender assumptions, and toxic work situations (and how to escape them). How we work is an important component of how we live\u2014and we\u2019re here to help you do better at both.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Something messing with your flow? Unload your work problems here, and you\u2019ll not only feel heard but you\u2019ll also get unbiased, real-world advice. (That\u2019s something your work sibling\/spouse just can\u2019t offer.) Tell us everything: <\/em>ideasbywe@wework.com<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019ve been living in a very large, expensive city for most of my adult life. I\u2019ve also been working in the same industry since graduation, gradually making my way up the food chain. I finally have a decent salary and title, but I haven\u2019t been able to save much money over the years due to the high costs of rent and general life needs in my city. I\u2019ve been thinking a lot about making the move to a smaller, less expensive city that\u2019s about two hours away, where I could more easily save enough to buy an apartment. But I love my company and job and don\u2019t want to start over. What\u2019s the best way to broach working remotely from this new city to my boss?<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019re living in the right time to do this. What might have seemed madness in years past is the norm in a lot of industries. A little more than 8 million people<\/a>, or 5 percent of the U.S. workforce, did their jobs from home in 2017, according to census data. This isn’t just an American phenomenon, either\u2014remote work is transforming business culture in Europe<\/a> as well. Along with the fact that technology has helped eliminate much of the need to convene in an office regularly, there are studied benefits to working remotely<\/a>, including boosted productivity and a higher talent-retention rate. Stanford professor Nicholas Bloom has a TED talk <\/a>that\u2019s worth watching as you prepare yourself to make the ask. His research<\/a> found that working from home led to a 22 percent increase in productivity<\/a> at one company, along with improved work satisfaction and a lower attrition rate (by half). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I very much suggest noting those statistics in a conversation with your manager! But more about that in a bit. Let\u2019s take it step-by-step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to ask your manager to work remotely <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: Do your research<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Start with your company. It sounds like you\u2019ve been there for a while, and you love it. So look and ask around. Is there a precedent at your company for people working remotely, whether it\u2019s once a week or full-time? If anyone does regularly work from home, talk to them about how they arranged to do that, and how they\u2019ve managed the transition. If you\u2019ve got people to point to and a successful program for this at your company, you\u2019re going to have a much easier road than if you\u2019re the very first employee to make a case for it. 
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Of course, there\u2019s a first for everything. You can blaze this trail\u2014but to do so, you\u2019ll have to make a strong proposal. Gather stats that show how letting employees work remotely is good not only for them but also good for the company overall<\/a>. And paint a clear picture of how seamless it will be to have you transition to remote work. 
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Step 2: Understand your (and their) negotiating point<\/strong>s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As you build your case, you\u2019ll need to identify your points of leverage, and the points of leverage your company has on you.
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First, identify your bottom line: Are you confident that you’re going to make this move anyway, or will you only do it if you can keep your job? Are you willing to walk away from the job you have for the city you want to move to? Would you consider changing your employment status with the company\u2014e.g., becoming a contractor rather than a full-time employee? 
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Also, realize that if you are granted the opportunity to work remotely, there is a chance that it won\u2019t work out for the long term\u2014your manager may agree to let you try it but then find that after a few months it\u2019s too disruptive to the team. Prepare yourself for that scenario before making the ask.
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If you are willing to make the move and walk away from your job if they say no to your request, you might consider searching for a new role as a backup plan. If you have a competing job offer, you could present it to your company as leverage\u2014but also bear in mind this could backfire, and they could tell you to just take the other offer. Also, realize that you are likely getting paid a premium to work in an expensive city, so you may have to take a lower salary if you move. Your company will likely know this, too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Lay out the logistic<\/strong>s<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For you, working remotely might mean being able to save money in this exciting new location or eliminating your commute, but what your manager needs to know is the logistical stuff that matters to them, such as: How are you going to get your work done and continue to be a valuable part of the team?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help make your case, gather all of the pertinent information that assures them of that, based on your desired city. It should include things like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n