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

Newsflash - News from the FAA

[Anonymous Coward]

The US Federal Aviation Authority has announced that National Women's Pilot day was not a success.

Re:Commute into here

[Anonymous Coward]

God bless you goatse man, for not giving in to threats of terror! Your example is a shining beacon to us all. or something...

Re:Sell him the sizzle, not the steak.

[Anonymous Coward]

No, do not work your butt off. Work at your normal pace. If you work hard now, the boss will think you're slacking off when you settle down to your normal pace. If telecommuting is effective for you, then a normal pace translates into long term increased productivity. Good luck with it.

Re:Works for Me

[Anonymous Coward]

Is that you RMS?

Re:Telecommuting

[Anonymous Coward]

You should work at home. With your grammar and spelling foibles, you'll just drag the office down with you.

Re:try asking....

[Anonymous Coward]

See #2300696 above. Rationality will get you nowhere.

That ass is filthy!

[LinuxLuddite]

Here, wipe it with some of my VA Linux stock:

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Re:Speed up the commute

[RustyTaco]

That is REALLY bad. Really, really bad... but I can't help but chuckle at it.
- RustyTaco

Body Bags and Housing Costs

[Anonymous Coward]

The price of living in a city is high indeed -- DEATH! I would bet that people will start to move out of cities in light of the current tragedy.

Shalom,

- Hubert T. Bookings

Re:Telecommuting

[Anonymous Coward]

Go fuck yourself. Someone's opinion disagrees with yours, so you demand that he be modded down? Do you realise how much that says about the low regard you have for free speech?"I do not agree with what you are saying, so I will defend your right to say it at -1, flamebait" You may me fucken sick.