Letter Asking to Work From Home Because of Relocation

Letter Asking to Work From Home Because of RelocationLetter Asking to Work From Home Because of RelocationWorking from home used to be synonymous with sleeping in, doing errands, and working in your pajamas, and employers only allowed it in case of emergency. That was the dark ages. Today, technology has changed everything. Thanks to internet, email, messaging applications, and video conferencing, you can be just as productive and accessible at home as you would be on-site. You can even collaborate with a team just as effectively as you would if you were all located in the same place. However, just because technology makes it possible to work remotely doesnt mean that every employer or every manager is on board. If youre relocating because of a spouses job change or similar but you still love your job and dont want to make a change you might need to convince your supervisor to allow you to work from home. Tips for Getting Approved to Work Remotely When you do so, its important to emphasize the benefits to the company, instead of talking about the plusses from your perspective. Remember the bottom line is, well, the bottom line. If you can demonstrate that letting you work from home will save or even make money for the company, youll stand a much better perspektive of convincing the boss. 1. Calculate the Savings Everyone is available around the clock anyway with smartphones, meeting technology, virtual office software, and other remote options the days of being changed to your desk, let alone your office, are over. While employees benefit from the flexibility of working from home with a better work-life balance, allowing workers to telecommute can also save the company money. From real estate costs to snacks in the breakroom to subsidized commuting, not having you in the office can make a real difference in terms of costs to your employer. Before you speak with your manager, tally up these savings. Theres little more persuasive than dollars and cents, esp ecially to budget-conscious supervisors. 2. Demonstrate Higher Productivity and Loyalty Telecommuting workers are actually more productive than their colleagues confined to an office, plus they report more job satisfaction. A Stanford study showed that working from home added up to an extra day of work over time, due to the fact that commuters lose hours to being late or leaving early. The same study showed that remote workers took shorter breaks and less time off than their colleagues in the office. Unsurprisingly, they also used less sick time, probably due to less exposure to sick coworkers. Telecommuters were also less likely to leave their jobs. Attrition fell by 50 percent among study participants who were allowed to work from home. (Thats also a huge cost savings for your employer think about how much it costs to recruit, hire, and train replacements for workers who leave for greener pastures.) 3. Be Willing to Prove Yourself To seal the deal, ask for a trial period. A reaso nable boss likely wont argue with that again, especially when the cost of recruiting and training someone to fill your role will be far higher. Then, do your best work during that trial period. Be proactive about communicating with your boss and teammates about your schedule and availability. Be accessible via all the usual means of communication, including email, Slack, or phone. Dont try to multitask with personal and professional responsibilities. Secure childcare if you need it and dont let household chores become daytime work. (The laundry can wait your 1 p.m. conference call cant.) If you work from home the right way, youll reduce your employers concern about absenteeism and inefficiency that affects their bottom line. Want to ask your employer to let you work from home due to relocation? Frame your request in a letter. Asking to Work From Home Because of Relocation Letter Example (Text Version) Subject Meeting to Discuss RelocationDear Henry,As you know, my wife is going to be relocating to Denver in a few months. I would very much like the opportunity to meet with you to discuss the possibility of my continuing to work for you remotely, once our move is complete.After our move, I would be available to travel to the office when necessary and would be willing to maintain very close contact on the projects underway and moving forward.I believe that my interest and experience will continue to be an asset to the company, and would appreciate the opportunity to continue to work with this fine team.Thank you for your consideration and Im looking forward to discussing this possibility in person.Best regards,Aaron Expand