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Message
Working Remotely-Anyone Convince Their Organization?
Posted on 6/13/17 at 2:01 pm
Posted on 6/13/17 at 2:01 pm
I really like my job. My career has done well, and I've taken a promotion to a great position within my company. I like where our company is heading, the salary and benefits are great, but my new office is 75-mile (roughly 1:30) from my house. I worked at a closer location (24-miles) for a few years before being promoted to the main office.
When they first discussed it with me, they had talked about me working at an 'in-between' location a few days a week. Then it turned into full-time at the office. And I travel. So between the commuting when I'm. It traveling and the travel, its killing me on a family-level. Personally, we just had our first child right when this transition started. So I didn't fully know how it was going to affect me.
Anyway, I'm trying to come up with a method to bring this up to my boss and see if there is something that we could live with. All of my work can be done remotely. There is no reason for me to be sitting in an office.
Anyone had success with proposing this type of scenario to an organization where it's not the norm?
When they first discussed it with me, they had talked about me working at an 'in-between' location a few days a week. Then it turned into full-time at the office. And I travel. So between the commuting when I'm. It traveling and the travel, its killing me on a family-level. Personally, we just had our first child right when this transition started. So I didn't fully know how it was going to affect me.
Anyway, I'm trying to come up with a method to bring this up to my boss and see if there is something that we could live with. All of my work can be done remotely. There is no reason for me to be sitting in an office.
Anyone had success with proposing this type of scenario to an organization where it's not the norm?
9
Posted on 6/13/17 at 2:28 pm to lnomm34
My company lets us work from home a lot so long there are no in house meetings
Posted on 6/13/17 at 2:30 pm to MSTiger33
Has that always been the norm? Or did you have to work toward that? I'm really lookin for advice on how to approach the conversation, I guess.
Posted on 6/13/17 at 2:43 pm to lnomm34
I work from home but also go into the office. I'm in sales though, so it's understood that I will be working outside the office a good portion of the time.
To get things going, I would propose it to your company on a trial basis - you could start with just requesting to do it one day per week if you think they will be very resistant but I would probably start with at least 2 or 3 days. Be prepared to explain your home office set up, especially if they know you have kids at home. You really need a dedicated office where you can close the door to be separated from whatever your family is doing.
Ask them to try it for a couple of months and see what the results are. If you are just as productive or more at home and they have no trouble reaching you, they will most likely go for it long-term.
To get things going, I would propose it to your company on a trial basis - you could start with just requesting to do it one day per week if you think they will be very resistant but I would probably start with at least 2 or 3 days. Be prepared to explain your home office set up, especially if they know you have kids at home. You really need a dedicated office where you can close the door to be separated from whatever your family is doing.
Ask them to try it for a couple of months and see what the results are. If you are just as productive or more at home and they have no trouble reaching you, they will most likely go for it long-term.
Posted on 6/13/17 at 2:48 pm to Lightning
Thanks! I wouldn't have kids around if I did work from home. Baby is in daycare and would stay there.
My trouble is the productivity markers. In sales that's easy. In my field, not so much. Hell, my boss rarely ever checks in with me. Most of the time, I drive to my office, do my work, and go home without interacting with anyone. I have been keeping a running log of accomplishments that I've made so far in my new role (for evaluation purposes) so maybe that's a good way of tracking productivity. . . .
My trouble is the productivity markers. In sales that's easy. In my field, not so much. Hell, my boss rarely ever checks in with me. Most of the time, I drive to my office, do my work, and go home without interacting with anyone. I have been keeping a running log of accomplishments that I've made so far in my new role (for evaluation purposes) so maybe that's a good way of tracking productivity. . . .
Posted on 6/13/17 at 3:02 pm to lnomm34
You said there has already been a discussion, so I would start there. "You may recall way back we had a discussion..."
I can tell you that it is 100 percent a company culture thing. Especially if it's a smaller privately held company. A number of bosses and business owners have no issue with work from home. Others would never, ever even consider allowing it, mainly because "well I never got that".
I can tell you that it is 100 percent a company culture thing. Especially if it's a smaller privately held company. A number of bosses and business owners have no issue with work from home. Others would never, ever even consider allowing it, mainly because "well I never got that".
Posted on 6/13/17 at 3:03 pm to lnomm34
The time to address this was when you were in promotion talks. You should have made it very clear you had a baby on the way and this new position would move you an hour further away.
Most companies are probably not too keen on just letting select people work from home. It is everybody or nobody.
Most companies are probably not too keen on just letting select people work from home. It is everybody or nobody.
Posted on 6/13/17 at 3:18 pm to LSUFanHouston
Good points. I think you're right about opening the conversation by bringing up the past discussions.
And I'm not set on proposing working from home, per se. I wouldn't mind just working from one of the locations closer to home instead of the office in downtown New Orleans.
And I'm not set on proposing working from home, per se. I wouldn't mind just working from one of the locations closer to home instead of the office in downtown New Orleans.
This post was edited on 6/13/17 at 3:19 pm
Posted on 6/13/17 at 3:23 pm to hiltacular
quote:
Most companies are probably not too keen on just letting select people work from home. It is everybody or nobody.
Definitely my concern. I'm 90% sure working from home wouldn't fly because of this exactly. I think I'll propose working from another of our locations which is closer to home.
Posted on 6/13/17 at 3:24 pm to lnomm34
quote:If it were me, I would schedule a meeting with my boss and say pretty much exactly what you said here. I'd emphasize that the company had mentioned the possibility of an in between location, and I'd just straight up talk to him about it and see if yall can work something out. If he's not a complete cock sucker, he's going to understand.
I really like my job. My career has done well, and I've taken a promotion to a great position within my company. I like where our company is heading, the salary and benefits are great, but my new office is 75-mile (roughly 1:30) from my house. I worked at a closer location (24-miles) for a few years before being promoted to the main office.
When they first discussed it with me, they had talked about me working at an 'in-between' location a few days a week. Then it turned into full-time at the office. And I travel. So between the commuting when I'm. It traveling and the travel, its killing me on a family-level. Personally, we just had our first child right when this transition started. So I didn't fully know how it was going to affect me.
Anyway, I'm trying to come up with a method to bring this up to my boss and see if there is something that we could live with. All of my work can be done remotely. There is no reason for me to be sitting in an office.
Posted on 6/13/17 at 3:47 pm to sandwolf
quote:
If it were me, I would schedule a meeting with my boss and say pretty much exactly what you said here. I'd emphasize that the company had mentioned the possibility of an in between location, and I'd just straight up talk to him about it and see if yall can work something out. If he's not a complete cock sucker, he's going to understand.
good advice.
I worked it out for my boss and it worked for almost 10 years, but came to an end this year. They said move to HQ or take a package.
There is a definite move in the direction of more working remotely, but large orgs have had some issues with it and are pulling back in (Yahoo, HP, Oracle) are all or have previously tried to centralize this. What do they have in common? They are all struggling.
Posted on 6/13/17 at 5:22 pm to Hawkeye95
quote:
There is a definite move in the direction of more working remotely, but large orgs have had some issues with it and are pulling back in (Yahoo, HP, Oracle) are all or have previously tried to centralize this. What do they have in common? They are all struggling.
Add IBM as well.
Now what is in common as well? They are all tech companies.
You would think if any type of company would be built to support remote work, it would be a tech company.
I think this is an issue of 1) lack of effective management of the remote employees, and 2) looking for a scapegoat to blame for problems.
Posted on 6/13/17 at 7:31 pm to LSUFanHouston
I think you're right on the 'looking for scapegoat' part of your statement. These companies are struggling. And I think when companies get as bloated as the ones mentioned, it gets increasingly difficult for the organization to effectively manage all employees.
Posted on 6/13/17 at 7:46 pm to lnomm34
You're driving 3 hrs/day?
Posted on 6/13/17 at 7:48 pm to TheOcean
Yep. Probably closer to 3:15-3:20. FML
Posted on 6/14/17 at 10:33 am to lnomm34
I do about 50 miles a day round trip, have done so for 16+ years. Can't work remotely (not that kind of job or organization), so I deal with it by working 4 days a week. I don't work on Fridays, except by special advance arrangement...this gives me two extra hours a week by reducing the commute time, and I think it makes me more productive during my hours in the office.
You might consider asking for a "4 10s" schedule (common in many 24-hr industrial settings) or similar schedule flexibility.
Or you could move closer to your job....
You might consider asking for a "4 10s" schedule (common in many 24-hr industrial settings) or similar schedule flexibility.
Or you could move closer to your job....
Posted on 6/14/17 at 11:21 am to lnomm34
If they promoted you, and you are doing well, they value you. Definitely bring up the prior discussion and let them know it was never anyone's intention for the promotion to result in you driving to new orleans everyday.
I personally don't think anyone wants their employees to be on the road for 3+ hours a day just driving to and from work. From a management perspective it is unreasonable to expectant employee not to get burnt out with that scenario.
If you have reasons for not moving I would make that clear in the initial conversation, otherwise they will float that as the cure. A Good reason would be grandparents/family in the area to keep the kid when it is sick so you can go to work.
I personally don't think anyone wants their employees to be on the road for 3+ hours a day just driving to and from work. From a management perspective it is unreasonable to expectant employee not to get burnt out with that scenario.
If you have reasons for not moving I would make that clear in the initial conversation, otherwise they will float that as the cure. A Good reason would be grandparents/family in the area to keep the kid when it is sick so you can go to work.
Posted on 6/14/17 at 11:53 am to lnomm34
quote:
Yep. Probably closer to 3:15-3:20. FML
My round trip to the office and back totals 80 miles. Spend at least 2 and half hours in the car daily.
I was able to work out a work from home situation for me and my team for 1-2 days a week.
Basically, I developed a solid (enough) business case and stated some fundamentals that would benefit the company if they allowed this type of arrangement. Basically it boiled down to actually getting more time from people since they don't have to go through the production of a commute. Basically we ended up getting about an hour extra from each person every day by allowing remote working. Also had to take account of how we would handle meetings and other things (we use Go To Meeting). Basically just took into account all of the issues and had a solution presented. Part of the case was a trial period and then analysis 3 months later.
Long story short, look for the benefits for the company and then write up a solid business case. They may not bite right away, but it might soften them to the idea.
Posted on 6/14/17 at 1:06 pm to lnomm34
I had a similar case as you - I asked for either a moving package, paid mileage above and beyond that to my original working location, or to be allowed to work from home/closer location. When faced with those options, they agreed to let me work from home or the closer office location, and limited the amount of times I had to go to the main office (monthly meetings).
Posted on 6/14/17 at 1:13 pm to lnomm34
I spoke with my company about working remotely. It was a soft no...essentially they said they would prefer I be at the office.
Reading between the lines it was...if you have to work from home we would rather that than to lose you, but would certainly prefer you here at the office.
Reading between the lines it was...if you have to work from home we would rather that than to lose you, but would certainly prefer you here at the office.
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