Telecommuting from the Employer’s Viewpoint
As somebody interested in telecommuting, you may have an easy time realizing all the benefits this could bring into your life. While you may feel that working from home is a good idea, there is one obstacle that could potentially stand in your way: your employer.
Is your employer open to you (and possibly other employees) telecommuting? Or does your company seem close-minded about this work style?
Before you do anything – including asking your employer if you can telecommute – make sure you take the time to look at the situation from their side of the fence. By doing this, you will be able to see the pros and cons that are constantly tugging at your employer.
As you attempt to think about telecommuting from the point of view of your employer, ask yourself these three questions:
- Why would my employer be against telecommuting?
- Why would my employer agree to let me telecommute, even if this has never been done in the past?
- How is this going to change my work environment and interaction with other employees?
When you ask and answer these questions, you will get a much better feel for where your employer is coming from.
Once you better understand your employer’s point of view, you can move forward with the next natural step in the process: discussing this situation and doing your best to sell the benefits of allowing you to work at home.
It makes perfect sense for you to get excited about telecommuting and the benefits of doing so. Just remember that this is a two-way street. Unless your employer is on board and as excited as you, it may be an uphill battle on your part.
And right now employers are transitioning to telecommuting options rapidly, especially since the development of COVID-19. Check out this resource we were provided by our friends at Toptal that gives a more in-depth inside look into what goes into either transitioning current in-office to telecommuting employees or hiring for a telecommute position.
However. if you find that telecommuting with your current employer isn’t a feasible option, check out our job boards below!