Bob Sullivan of the Red Tape Chronicles points out the obvious solution to relief at the pump - telecommute a couple of days a week.
Companies don’t see it quite that clearly. Only about 20% of employees telework. Trust issues and security issues seem to still be in the way.
Here are tips Sullivan got from Tim Ferriss (The Four-Hour Work Week) to convince the boss about the upside of a telecommuting arrangement. Most important: Make it about the business ie saving the company money, etc., not about you.
–Make it an easily reversible decision: Suggest a very brief trial period for working at home — perhaps two days during the next month. Promise a thorough review when the month is over, and profess a willingness to scrap the plan if it doesn’t work. That will make saying yes less risky for your boss. It also sets up the next tip.
–The “puppy dog ploy:” Every salesman knows this one. Picture the salesman at the pet store saying, “Just take him home for a day, and if it doesn’t work out, bring him back.” No one ever brings back a puppy. Once you get a foot in the door (or rather, out the door) it will be much easier to take telecommuting to the next level. After a month passes, document how productive you are, and slowly increase the amount of time you spend out of the office.
–Suggest a Wednesday: If you ask for a Monday or a Friday to telecommute in your first foray, Ferriss said, that will sound too much like you simply want a three-day weekend. By offering up a middle-of-the-week day, your request sounds more like a business proposal.
–Don’t give up: Here’s an offer your boss can’t refuse. Offer to work extra from home a couple of Saturdays during the next month, free to the company. What boss would say no to that? Then, document how productive you are. Include things like the lack of interruptions by co-workers. Taking the initiative will impress the boss and being productive will make your case hard to refute.
–The reverse strategy: In your next round of salary negotiations, ask for travel expenses. You won’t likely get them, but you will have a fall-back point to offer — less commuting. You will also have made a point about gas expenses.
–Remember, bosses are people: They have to justify their decisions, too — both to their boss, and to your peers. Don’t make it hard for them. Understand their fears and challenges. “If you ask for a personal perk, they’ll have to give it to everyone else,” Ferriss said. Instead, hand the boss a rational business decision she can defend. Even if your ultimate motivation is a cheaper gas bill, frame the conversation as a good-for-the-bottom-line strategy and you’ll dramatically increase your odds of success.
