Scared to Return to Office? Here’s How to Be a Permanent Remote Employee
When the COVID-19 pandemic required non-essential workers to work from home, the sudden transition was unsettling to those who never tried this new work arrangement before. But despite this immediate shift, many gradually recognized the appeal of working at home. It offers a range of benefits, from foregoing the daily commute, spending more time at home, and saving more time and money. But as vaccinations continue to roll out worldwide, jurisdictions are finally lifting stay-at-home policies amid the ongoing pandemic. While this sounds great news for everyone, many are not comfortable about returning to the office just yet. In fact, many have grown comfortable working remotely that it largely affected real estate. With an in-demand housing market, many are now using home selling apps to find bigger properties and multifunctional homes to accommodate the growing demands of working from home. Let’s face it, employees don’t have the authority to decide when to return to work. But going through another work transition can be highly stressful, especially if you prefer working remotely. So if you think your company is slowly giving up remote work, here’s what you should do to convince your boss to let you stay at home.
Know the safety measures of your company
One reason why many are hesitant to return to their offices is the concern about health and safety risks. Many organizations today are briefing employees about their initiatives in handling work conditions amid a pandemic. Take the time to read these announcements or take part in webinars if there’s one. The information should address worries about coming back to work or cite the possibility of continuing remote work. The company should also distribute information on how they will ensure the health and safety of the employee. If the materials are unclear or confusing, don’t hesitate to raise your concern. Some companies assign a representative to tackle employees’ COVID-19-related issues. Let yourself be heard and clarify the measures and steps the company is doing to prevent health risks at work. If the company is not doing enough measures to address work conditions during a pandemic, discuss this with your manager and express your concerns about health safety at work. This is very important, especially if the employee has comorbidity, or suffers from two or more conditions that may affect their health once they catch an infection.
Cite the benefits
Most employees have grown accustomed to the new work-from-home routine. This type of arrangement is something that many employees have dreamed of for a while, and it’s not surprising why everyone wants this to be permanent. The beginning of the remote work era offered a lot of benefits for most workers. For example, the flexible schedule encouraged workers to be more productive, while others have more time to spend with their families. According to a study by Global Workplace Analytics, 80% of employees want to work remotely some of the time. This is especially true for workers who have to travel for long hours at work and spend more on transportation. If you’re willing to go the extra mile to be a permanent remote worker, consider creating a proposal on how working from home will not only benefit you but also the company. There’s no need to worry about this part because there are plenty of resources to support the claim that remote work has plenty of benefits for employers and employees alike. According to Stanford Graduate School of Business, working from home has a 13% improvement in employee performance. Meanwhile, Upwork’s Future Workforce Report also states 32% of managers saw an increased productivity rate when they adopted remote work in the workplace.
Make a compromise
When making a new work proposal, consider making a compromise by allowing you to work remotely at a certain period. This approach will allow your manager to monitor how it will affect work processes before committing to anything permanent. During the trial, make sure to track your productivity and performance to demonstrate how you can be just as productive as working at home. There are plenty of online tools to track deliverables and productivity levels so you can present them to your boss with examples and statistics. Take advantage of the opportunity by highlighting all the good sides of working at home.As pandemic restrictions finally ease, most companies are starting to sketch out their return-to-work plans. In turn, employers should also consider their worker’s situation and provide the best work arrangement to promote productivity and employee satisfaction. The pandemic is far from over, so make sure to offer other flexible options to ensure employees are safe and comfortable.
