How Do I Sell Telecommuting to My Employer?

EyeBhatingThisCommute asks: "I work in an area with extremely high housing rates. I make an OK salary but even so finding a residence worth the money and that meets my family's needs has been tough. I recently found a home in a great neighborhood about 2 hours from my current job. It is perfect for our needs and is a great value. I know some people may make this commute without a thought but I drove this for 5 months when I first started working in my present area and it made me miserable. How can I best convince my employer to allow me to telecommute for the majority of my work week?" We've done previous articles about telecommuting: here, here and here. It's clear that workers would prefer to telecommute, so why aren't businesses allowing them to do so? When property prices in the city seem to be on a climb without end, how is one supposed to find the perfect marriage of job and location without an endless search?

"I could look for a new job closer to where I want to move but I do like the work that I am doing and I like the direction that the company is going. My work mainly consists of communicating using email and the phone and using a computer for word processing, spreadsheets, etc. My job does require a good amount of interaction with my peers for meetings, troubleshooting and just answering questions so I am willing to spend a day or two each week in the office. Every other part of my job can be done just as effectively at home."

"Has anyone had a similar experience? What are some good arguments for my employer about why I should be allowed to telecommute? The biggest argument for me is my happiness but of course that is usually not the company's #1 concern.

This trend is becomming increasingly true of people who work in even a moderately technological work-places. Are these the signs that the traditional workplace of the 20th century is finally becomming obsolete? If so, how will employees and employers be affected by this change?

Comments

Re:I'll tell you why employers don't like it

[CAPTAINROOTMAN]

I dont do any work when I'm sitting in the office, so what's the difference?

Another option

[Squeezer]

Buy a Valentine 1 radar detector and haul ass to work. Cut that 2 hour commute to a 15 minute commute :)

Works for Me

[Skyshadow]

I recommend a simple 3-step process:

1. Eat only beans for lunch. Repeat for at least one month.
2. During the month, try to be in close quarters (elevators, small meeting rooms, etc) with your boss as much as possible.
3. At the end of the month, bring up telecommuting.

If this fails, and if your digestive system is anything like mine, switch to an Indian food-only diet.

Re:Works for Me

[Rimbo]

Or, just stop bathing for a while. Eat lots of raw garlic.

Then, after stunning him with your foul breath, implant the telecommuting suggestion. :)

Do what I did...

[ryanvm]

Get you're physician to tell him you've developed explosive bowel syndrome. This will actually solve a lot of social problems too.

Re:telecommuting and productivity

[ekrout]

(sarcasm) Yeah, nuthin' beats living with your parents when you're 40 ;-)

Re:Consider public transportation

[jazman_777]

I thought I'd hate it, but it turns out I love it, and my commute has really improved my chess game!

Have you played Bobby Fischer on ICC, too?