Working from home can be good for you in many ways. It may help your mental health, make you more productive, and even save money like on gas and parking, because you won’t need to commute as often. You’ll also be able to stay connected with your family more easily, which can help avoid unnecessary stress at work. It also allows you more time for yourself—time that could be spent doing yoga or reading novels.

Working from home can also be beneficial to the company you work for. But not all bosses are convinced or even aware of this. If you’re considering working from home, here are some tips on how to ask your boss for work from home schedule:

Speak to your boss

If you’re an employee, let your boss know that you would like to work from home on occasion. It may be easier to ask permission from your manager than it is to get a client or customer’s approval. If you are a contractor and would like to work from home, contact your client to see if they have any issues with this request.

Make sure you do your homework before speaking with them so you’re prepared to convince them of why it’s a good idea.

Reach out to peers

You can also reach out to your coworkers. Ask them for advice, share your frustrations and ask for their help. They are in a position to understand what you’re going through and will likely be willing to help in any way they can.

It may be tempting at first to use the phrase “I can’t work from home” or “My schedule is too tight, I need my work done on site” but this isn’t effective if you want something more formal than that.

Talk to a human resources representative

Now that you have a better idea of what it means to work from home, it’s time to talk to your boss. If the notion of working from home sounds appealing but intimidating, don’t be afraid—your boss can help you make this happen.

• Talk to human resources
• Ask other people in the office if they’ve ever had someone work from home before
• Speak with someone who has worked from home before

Offer a trial period

Ask your boss, manager, or supervisor if a trial period of you working from home can help show that you’re able to meet deadlines, be easily contacted, and won’t cause bottlenecks for the whole team. This trial period can be an entire straight week or a few days a week for a few weeks. 

When you do this, it gives your superiors assurance and it becomes easier to convince them to offer work from home options. As a bonus you also get to practice how to set up your home office and how to schedule your workday at home.

To ease your boss into it, you can also let them know that you’ll still be available to come into the office when absolutely necessary for in-person meetings and other things that require you to physically be there.

Appeal to their human side

If a work from home arrangement benefits your home life or your mental health, try going with that angle. Let your boss know if you need to spend more time with your children or partner, or if you need some space from the office to feel more like yourself.

If they still say no to this, you might want to consider working elsewhere. A good work environment and boss should be considerate of their employees’ needs.

Present your work from home plan

Create a plan of how you would be working from home. Perhaps you can show your office set up, the hours you would be working and why they’re beneficial for you and the company, how taking video calls would not be a problem, etc. 

Employers who aren’t used to remote work are worried about one thing: are their employees actually working? If you can reassure them that you will be and that you’ll constantly communicate with them, their worries will be eased and they’ll be convinced it’s a good plan.

Show how work from home benefits their competitors

If none of the ones above work, this might be the one that convinces them once and for all. Companies like to know what their competitors are doing and how they can be better. 

If the place you work at has a direct competitor with a work from home policy, try to find out how it has benefited them in the long run. Look for productivity stats, sales increases, employee turnover rates, growth etc. The best way you can convince your boss that work from home is a good idea is to show what it can do for their bottom line. Here are some facts you can use:

• More productivity – Working from home is a great way to increase your productivity. You’ll be able to get more done in less time, and you won’t have any distractions like traffic or coworkers trying to get your attention. 
• Reduced overhead costs – As a remote worker, you can reduce your overhead costs by eliminating the need for an office space. You may not need a full-time employee or even any employees at all if you’re working from home. Finally, there are no office supplies such as paper clips or stamps (or even pens). You won’t have to worry about wasting money on regular supplies that could be used elsewhere in your business plan; instead of buying new pens every month just because one broke off in the middle of an important meeting with clients/customers etc., simply replace them when needed instead!
• Better employee retention – Employee retention is a major benefit of working from home. When you have the freedom to work whenever and wherever you want, employees are happier and more likely to stay with the company. That’s because they aren’t tied down at their desk in an office chair all day long—they can take breaks when they need them, make lunch dates with friends or family members who live nearby, and spend time outside doing something fun like hiking or yoga class (if that sounds like something your employee would enjoy). In addition, working from home allows employees who travel often or have children at home during weeknights (or both) access to flexible work hours that allow them flexibility in scheduling their families’ needs while still keeping up with deadlines at work.
• Improved hiring options – You can hire people who are not able to come into the office, who would not be able to get a job in the office, and people with different skill sets than you, so that your company has more options for your clients’ needs.
• Higher morale – Working from home can be a great way to avoid office politics, as people are more likely to listen to your ideas and suggestions. You’ll also have better control over your career, which is important when you’re working with another person or company.

Join a remote team

If you still weren’t successful in convincing your company to offer work from home opportunities, it’s time to take on a role at a company or for an employer who already has that policy. Remote work is the future and you don’t want to stay in a job who stubbornly stays in the past.

Remote Workmate only hires remote employees from the Philippines who want to work for clients from the US, UK, and Australia. Jumpstart your career with us and let us help you reach success. Check below for our available listings now.