With the pandemic life becoming regulated (thanks to the ‘new normal’ terms), more and more offices are demanding their employees to get back to work in their physical offices. While most employees are okay with not working remotely, others are anxious about traveling to work. Mostly because that means coming into contact with people. If your boss is calling you to the office, just use these tips to convince them to let you work from home.

Related: Working From Home? Here’s How You Can Separate ‘Home’ and ‘Work’.

Is working remotely even possible for you?

Okay, this one goes without saying; surgeons, pilots, Uber drivers, and so many other professionals can’t work from home.

However, there are plenty of teleworking roles that can be managed remotely. This includes roles such as copywriters, social media managers, designers, and sales jobs. Analyze your role to the finest detail. Moreover, read your job description and note tasks that can be managed from home. This activity will come in handy when you want to propose WFH to your bosses.

Make sure you’re good at what you do!

Your bosses won’t let you take this remote working opportunity if they don’t even trust you with your work. So it’s essential to know your place! If you’re not a top performer well versed with culture and operations, your boss can easily hire someone new to replace you. We recommend that you ask yourself the following questions before you present this idea to your employers:

  • What’s your track record when it comes to performance reviews?
  • Did you make any recent mistakes? If so, how did you recover?
  • How’s your rapport with your coworkers & clients?
  • Have you received a mention/positive feedback from clients or team leads?
  • What’s your USP?

Explore what’s working remotely means for the company and your boss

Your bosses will have to weigh many essential questions before they give you the go-ahead for this.

  • Will this impact your productivity & output?
  • Does this make life harder or easier for your coworkers?
  • Will other coworkers demand the same treatment?

Fortunately, there are many tangible benefits for companies implementing remote working jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic:

  • Increased employee productivity
  • Increased employee morale & health
  • Decreased spread of the coronavirus contagions
  • Lower employee turnover
  • Increased sense of ownership to drive tasks to completion
  • Lesser stress levels = Less downtime/sick days
  • Less expenses on electronics, office bills etc.

A Government study under the Obama administration Office of Personnel Management also indicated common organizational benefits of teleworking, including:

  • Better emergency preparedness (59%)
  • Improved employee attitudes (58%)
  • Better recruitment (35%)
  • Better retention (35%)
  • Reduced employee commute miles (29%)
  • Improved employee performance (17%)
  • Reduced real estate costs (17%)
  • Reduced energy use (13%)

“56% of jobs in the U.S. are now compatible with at least occasional remote work. And the number of people working from home “occasionally” increased from 37% in 2015 to 43% in 2016. All signs point to the continued rise of remote work.”

 Flexjobs

Get clear on the ‘why’.

Don’t be afraid to talk about your apprehensions about joining work in the middle of a pandemic. The coronavirus outbreak is an unforeseen crisis that has impacted many lives and continues to do so. Make a list of things that make you want to work from home right now.

For instance:

  • Taking public transport
  • Interacting with groups in the office
  • Anxiety about passing it on to elderly parents or grandparents who are most at risk of the virus

Strike a deal! Present your idea & negotiate.

Talk to your superiors about your idea and try to understand their concerns. Carry a positive and problem-solving mindset to this meeting, and don’t hesitate to speak about your genuine worries. Empathy is a big part of business organizations, and chances are that your employers will be supportive and understanding of your decisions. If your employer feels it’s too early to take this step, here are some other tips that’ll come in handy:

  • Move-in with a roomi: Consider moving in with roommates if you’re living with older parents or grandparents
  • Suggest a trial run if your bosses aren’t totally convinced with the idea
  • Negotiate and offer to come in once a week instead of every day

D’you know what else Roomi does outside of helping its readers figure their way around remotely? With our ever-increasing lists of rooms and roommates across the world, we help you find your perfect match! Download the app here and hop on the easiest ride home, ever!