ALT-3 How to Build a Case for Telecommuting
Telecommuting is hardly a new concept, yet employers are extraordinarily reluctant to pick up the trend. If you are a worker aiming to direct some, or all, of your work hours to your home, do not doubt: it will be an uphill struggle.
So, why worry about it at all? I am a walking case for telecommuting. Unfortunately, I did it the hard way - after one evil boss too many, I quit, and had to build back my income from scratch. Almost all of my business is conducted via telecommuting, and I encourage every employer to consider this slightly wacky work option.
The thing is, telecommuting has nothing but benefits to offer an employer. Obviously, not all positions are eligible for telecommuting - the server for a fast food store will never be able to serve from home - but most office-based positions are eminently suited to telecommuting.
Employers are reluctant to accept this fact because telecommuting involves giving up their traditional source of control: having the worker in their presence. Unfortunately, it takes a certain amount of effort on the worker's behalf to make the employer realise that giving an employee autonomy is a greater, though far subtler, source of control.
It comes down to emphasis on outcomes over hours. While your physical presence in the workplace gives your employer control over your hours, allowing you to telecommute will allow the employer to place more emphasis on your outcomes - which are far more important to their business. This is the basic benefit for the employer, which is augmented by their savings on office space and the increase of their profile as a modern company in the technological age.
In order to convince your employer to consider telecommuting as an option for your employment, you will need to mount an intelligent, professional and well-researched campaign. Concentrate on the benefits the move will have for the employer, rather than yourself - but don't forget that the benefits to you can also benefit the company.
I'll give you an example: Say I work for a publisher, proof-reading copy for eight hours a day, two days a week, getting paid $22 per hour. I am able to proofread 400 pages each day, but during busy periods I am often ill because of the stress caused by pressure to read 800 pages under deadline. My accuracy is around 90% on an average day, but during periods of high stress it goes down to 80%.
In preparing to approach my employer, I will look at what benefits telecommuting has for me, but I will then figure out ways to make those benefits relate to my employer - for example, I will work out that my general productivity is 90% because I get tired in the afternoons, bringing my 97% average for the morning down. I will locate research on the benefits - of a personal environment to an individual, the effects fluorescent lighting has on concentration, the effects traveling in rush hour has on workers - and figure out the realistic accuracy at home due to these psychological benefits: say 95% on average. Already looking good for my employer.
To add to this, I will dig out statistics on stress and how it affects health, particularly in the work place. I will then dig out health statistics for home workers, or for people in a relaxed environment, and contrast this to my productivity during busy periods - promising a reliable 800-page days at the same level of accuracy, with no or few sick days.
Wait a second - this looks too good to be true! This is why you research your case so thoroughly. In providing statistics, you establish an objective argument on the benefits for the company. Otherwise, you are merely telling your boss that you should be better at your job.
Once you have figured out the argument for your own personal case, look into the more general benefits. Estimate, in dollars, the savings from you not coming in. Look into studies on the enhanced productivity experienced by telecommuting companies. Think about the benefits for the company's public image.
When you are done, structure your argument and draw up a proposal you can hand to them while you explain. Review it, and look at it from your employer's point of view. If you see something you'd be willing to buy, you are most of the way there.
