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re you one of the many mothers who have been struggling to get the best of both worlds: work and family? Does work always find a way to creep into your “family quality time” and keep you in the office after hours, over weekends,
Be Reasonable:
1 Have a clear proposition:
Be prepared to share a clear win-win proposition with your management that outlines how both parties will benefit from a flexible arrangement. Your objective should NOT include the desire to watch over children while you work or the preference to cook a gourmet dinner while working on a client project. A proposition centred more or less around “Less burnout/stress/commuting hassle” and thereby “More productivity” is what you should have in mind.
4 Be Accessible:
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Are you able to be just as available and approachable at home as you are at the office? It’s imperative that you are: may it be via e-mail, online chat, video conferencing, phone, fax – you might want to consider synchronising your work email on your home PC/Laptop and getting your home internet connection up-to-speed.
not only benefit employees, but also employers: talk about reduced “call in sick” days, increased productivity, increased effectiveness, more employee commitment and thus accountability. There is thus no call for panic. Below are some of Bayt Career Experts’ Top Tips to negotiate your way to Telecommuting:
etc...? Has it become a bit too overwhelming with the morning traffic, family responsibilities and the never ending interruptions at the workplace? Have you been putting off the “Flexible Work Arrangement Please” talk with your superior? Contrary to popular belief, telecommuting does
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Determine the amount of flexibility that the nature of your job allows. List your job duties and run an assessment of what can be done remotely (i.e.: admin, research, etc.), and what would require your personal presence at the office (i.e.: client meetings, departmental meetings, etc.). This should give you an idea of how many hours a day (or days a week) you could potentially work from home.
Be Committed:
If an employer is to put his trust in you and allow you flexible working hours, you too need to show that you are worthy of that trust. Make sure you have space at home which you will use solely for the purpose of “work” during your working hours from home – away from the outdoor tempting glare, food’s exquisite smell and the neighbours’ entertaining conversations.
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Draft a proposal:
Now that you have covered all the aforementioned, it is time to put it all down on paper in a compelling – yet transparent – proposal that you will take up to your superior for discussion. Rest assured, most companies today are aware of the importance of flexibility to working professionals and they do realise happy employees = more productive employees (you still might want to throw in a couple of employer benefits here and there). Make sure your plan sheds light not only on WHAT your objectives are but also HOW you plan to complete your entire job tasks remotely. Be ready to be asked questions and keep in mind that you are a doer, regardless of your location, and must sell management on that fact. It’s YOU who makes or breaks the job (and not the other way around!). Happy Telecommuting!
From the Career Experts at Bayt.com, the #1 job site in the Middle East with more than 30,000 employers and over 3.5 million registered job seekers from across the Middle East, North Africa and the globe, representing all industries, nationalities and career levels. Post a job or find jobs on www.bayt.com today and access the leading resource for job seekers and employers in the region.
2011 March
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