Organizations are on the verge of returning to work as additional options to be vaccinated against COVID-19 become available around the United States. However, returning to the office does not always imply that you will be working full-time on-site. After all, most people have gotten accustomed to working remotely from home, which has proven to be beneficial to both businesses and individuals.

Microsoft reports that 66% of worldwide businesses want to support a hybrid work paradigm and are remodeling office facilities to suit it. Employees frequently request that such a schedule be implemented.

Microsoft also discovered that many workers appreciate working from home, with 73% of survey respondents expressing a desire for more flexible work options and 67% expressing a want for more in-person connections with peers.

Because flex work is here to stay, remote work is now considered common practice. The remote-centric FlexJobs’ surveyed 2,100 remote employees and discovered that only 2% wanted to return to the office full-time after the pandemic, with one-third (33%) preferring hybrid and 65% wanting to stay totally remote.

Here are four steps for how to ask for remote work options at your company.

Step 1: Do your research

For starters, you’ll need to research your company and find out if there is a precedent of employees working from home. Feel free to approach your HR department for details on your company’s remote work policy.

Of course, even with all the information you gathered, you’ll need to make a strong proposal to your manager. To support your case, you can also gather the statistics that show how remote working is good for the employees and company alike. 

Step 2: Negotiate and find the middle ground

Making a plan for how to ask your boss to work from home isn’t just about presenting the facts and figures behind your choice. You’ll also need to be ready to compromise. Your boss may insist on a short trial run to assess your productivity levels. They may even ask that you limit your remote work to just a couple of days a week instead of a fully-remote schedule. 

The key is to let your boss know where you’re coming from and then understand their perspective as well. You may even end up compromising and agreeing that a hybrid work model is the best solution for everyone. 

Step 3: Reassure them about any logistical issues

Remote working may help you reduce costs, spend more time with your family, and better manage work stress. Still, you need to reassure your manager about any logistical concerns they may have about a potential transition to remote work.  

If you want your boss to seriously consider your request to work remotely, figuring out logistical details is a good place to start.

Consider the following: 

• Can all your current projects be handled remotely? 
• Will off-site processing and storage of certain data present privacy roadblocks and even compliance issues? 
• Will a VPN be necessary in order to access internal documents and information? 
• Will you require extra equipment to do your work from home? 
• Can your team migrate their tasks to a work management platform that will enable asynchronous communication and visibility? 

When considering how to ask your boss to work from home, consider all the implications of your request.

Step 4: Understand when to ask about remote work

Now that we’ve tackled the question of how to ask your boss to work from home, it’s time to address the question of when to ask about remote work. Unfortunately, it’s not as straightforward as making a plan to ask your boss when you know they’ll be in a good mood.

Instead, you’ll need to acknowledge the context of your team or department in order to make a good decision about when to ask about remote work. 

Read Also: How do You Make a Hybrid Work Model More Efficient?

For example, if you’re in the middle of a product sprint for a crucial release, you may find it hard to justify a sudden shift to remote working. Additionally, if you’re a new hire with an unproven track record, your boss may want to get a further sense of your skills before allowing you to transition away from an in-person office.

If you’ve settled into your current position and feel your workload is manageable while in a transition phase, you may feel that you’re in a good position to ask your boss if you can work from home.

Here is a list of examples of emails requesting to work from home because of specific situations:

Request to work from home regularly

Here’s an example of an email requesting to transition from occasional or part-time to permanent remote work:

Subject line: Request to work from home

Dear Mr. Gonzalez,

As you know, I have already been working remotely several hours each week. During this time, I’ve found that my focus and productivity have improved without the daily office distractions.

Would it be possible for me to transition to working from home full-time? I would still be available to meet in the office as needed, and you could reach me via phone or email at any point during the workday. It has been an honor to be a part of this team, and I look forward to our future collaboration and successes.

Thank you so much for your time and consideration.

Best,

Rachael Venoy

Request to work from home part-time

Use this example of an email requesting to work remotely a few days a week:

Subject line: Request to work from home part-time

Dear Josh,

As you’re already aware, I’ve been working from home every so often for the past year. The lack of interruptions while working remotely has allowed me to focus and accomplish more. Additionally, the close proximity to my colleagues has often been distracting and disruptive during phone conferences with my clients. I honestly feel that by working from home, I am able to provide my clients with more attention and better service.

Also, without a daily commute, I am more free to work extra hours, and without the need for my employee parking, the company saves on parking costs.

Would it be possible for me to work from home two to three days a week? I truly value my time in the office, but I feel that I could be just as, if not more effective, by working from home part-time. I am, of course, flexible about the days that work best for you and the company’s overall needs, and I’d always be available to come into the office when my presence is needed.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Best,

Curt Santmyer

Request to work from home temporarily

Here’s an example of a request to work from home due to an important project:

Subject line: Request to work from home

Dear Caroline,

We’re beginning preparations for this year’s marketing conference, and I’m so excited for this event. As you know, this conference requires a lot of time, writing and planning. In the next few months, we need to create marketing materials, write an email newsletter, develop an event page and build the event’s agenda.

As we approach the event, I’d like to start working from home a few days a week. In some of my previous jobs, I found that working from home improved my focus and productivity. I was thinking that Tuesday and Thursday would be ideal, since we usually don’t have any meetings on those days, but I’m flexible and could always come into the office if something came up. During the days when I’m working from home, you could reach me by email or phone.

Thank you for your time. I’m eager to hear your thoughts.

Best,

Tracy Morris

Request to work from home on a trial basis

If your company is new to remote work, you can use this example email as a guide:

Subject line: Request to work from home as a trial

Dear Mrs. Consoli,

As you know, my desk is in close proximity to several of my colleagues. Through no fault of their own, this can make client communications somewhat challenging. Recently, I’ve received several complaints from clients saying that they find the background noise distracting during our phone calls.

I know that our company has never tried it before, but would it be possible for me to experiment with working remotely on a trial basis? I think that working from my home office would eliminate potential distractions and interruptions, allowing me to improve my focus and productivity. I would, of course, be available through email or phone if you need me.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts. Thanks in advance for your time and consideration.

Best,

Taylor Bush

Request to work from home for health reasons

Here’s an example of an email you could use if you’d like to work remotely because of health concerns:

Subject line: Request to work from home for health reasons

Dear Charles,

Due to personal health issues, I’d like to request the chance to work from home. As you know, I’m immunocompromised, and lately I have been experiencing more symptoms. By working from home, it would give me the flexibility to rest and make doctor’s appointments without interrupting my workday. I believe that because of this, I could maintain or even improve my level of productivity.

Even though I’d be primarily working remotely, I would still be available through phone or email and could always come into the office when necessary.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my request. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.

Best,

Rose Miller

Request to work from home to care for a loved one

If caring for a loved one has made it difficult to go to the office every day, you can use this email example:

Subject line: Request to work from home to care for a family member

Dear Daniel,

As you know, my father has been struggling with dementia for almost two years now. The situation has necessitated that he move in with us a few months ago, but it has become clear that it is no longer safe for him to be left alone.

I’d like to request the chance to work from home so that I can watch after him. By just being in the home during the day, I can ensure that he is safe and fed. I’m confident that I could keep up with my current quotas remotely, and I’d be available via phone or email if a need should arise. If something comes up where I’m needed in the office, I could always find someone to sit with my dad for a day or a few hours.

I know this is an unusual request. Thank you so much for your understanding and consideration. If you have any questions or concerns, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best,

Michaela Ide

Summary

Focus less on how you’ll benefit from the hybrid schedule and more on how it will help your employer; use remote worker statistics, especially if you have your own you’ve kept during the pandemic. “Collect any data that can reflect an increase in your productivity, collaboration, and so on that occurred while you worked remotely,” said Betsy Andrews, career coach at FlexJobs, in the company’s blog.

Let your boss know how well you communicate with your teammates and describe how you’ll execute that communication and collaboration from home. FlexJobs suggests you say you’ll respond promptly to Slack messages, document your progress and send out a weekly email that rounds up your week.

If you get pushback, offer a trial run, set goals that you’ll keep and prove to your boss, at the end of the trial period, meet with your boss to discuss the results. If your manager is still reluctant, you may just have to be gracious and let them know you’ll keep the feedback, should the opportunity present itself again in the future.