Proposing to 100% telework - from another state

[Anonymous]

Anyone ever make this arrangement with their company? How did you go about proposing it? How long had you been with the company and what kind of work did you do?

We have sudden news that we need to relocate for DH's work, though the move itself probably won't be for another 3 months. I work for a consulting/"contracting" company in VA in the health field. I've actually been working from home the last month or so due to lack of space at the client site, with the occasional day in the office to get face time and make sure they remember that I exist! Most of those office days have been nonproductive because there's not space for me to sit comfortably and network connection can be poor.

Anyway I really like my company and my job there is about to expand and provide a lot of opportunity, so if possible I'd like to stay working for them after we move (1,400 mi away). But of course, it's an unorthodox request. I believe I can do the vast majority of my work remotely, and my strategy is to propose it and suggest we all try it out, see if it works, and if it doesn't we'll go our separate ways. Seems like a bigger risk for me - it will probably be harder for me to find a new job where we're going than for them to find a new person in the DC area if it comes to that.

So how would you present this? Would you even try it? My boss(es) and I get along very well.

[Anonymous]

I was in your position and made that proposal and so far so good.

Remember when proposing it that your knowledge is worth something and that this can be a win-win proposition - your company could find someone new, but would have to train them, so retaining you and having continuity in your functions has real value

And definitely ask! Worst they can say is No, right?

[Anonymous]

I have been doing it for almost 10 years. I eased into it though, proving it would work from my local home for about a year before my husband was stationed somewhere else. Have a good outline of how you will handle each potential situation. Adobe PDF professional became my most frequently used program, and I've done all the research on dropbox/google drive/etc. to make sure everything continues to run smoothly. Our clients love talking to me about "where am I now", my bosses get a nod of appreciation when clients hear how they are "supporting the military family" and I don't have to look for new jobs every time my husband transfers.

[Anonymous]

Someone in my government agency was just able to negotiate this, which absolutely shocked me. If you're valuable, they may be willing to try it. Can't hurt to ask.

[Anonymous]

Can't hurt to ask if you are definitely moving. You have to bring it up.

[Anonymous]

I was successful doing this. As pp said, my knowledge and experience with the company and our clients was valued. My 'office' is in Chicago.
Some things to think about, and possibly cover in your proposal

Will you be in the same time zone, if not, can/will you work ET hours?
How often are you willing and able to travel to the home office? Who pays for the travel expenses?
What type of equipment will they provide? Will you need a separate business line? Will they reimburse you for internet/phone?
Will you have access to shared files/drives at home office? Is there a secure way for you to access/share information?
Will you be able to have a separate/dedicated office space in your new home? If so, let them know. May give them comfort knowing you aren't working off the kitchen table after the breakfast dishes are cleaned up.
You may want to offer a 3 month trial, where you agree to re-assess if the new arrangement is working. This might give your boss a sense that you are willing to prove or demonstrate through productivity that this will be mutually beneficial

Good luck!!

[Anonymous]

I've seen this done for really good workers that are hard to replace. Some of them fly in regularly (once a week to once a month) or as needed. Since you are mostly working from home you could suggest fewer days in the office and fly back and forth occasionally if logistically and financially possible.

[Anonymous]

My group (asset mgmt for a financial services firm) has most of its people work remotely, but there is a lot of travel involved so as long as people are flexible and near an airport it is fine. Company saves a boatload on office space. We do require everyone have minimum office setup and they pay for it.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all of the input. It would be one hour earlier and yes I'd be willing to work on ET as needed. I would be able to have a dedicated office at home which I agree would help. I already have to use my own phone and internet for work purposes because I don't currently have a dedicated office/line, so that'd be no different and I'm willing to continue to pay for that aspect. I wouldn't be as willing to pay for each trip back to HQ so I guess that's a possible point of contention.

The other potential issue is that the reason I can work from home easily now is that the contracts I am on don't require, by nature of the actual contract, working on site. If there was to be an important contract that required even some work on site I obviously couldn't do that. Another potential problem is if my role on a contract requires access to data - something which existing contracts don't require but we anticipate they will within the next year. I suppose we would have to negotiate this aspect with client and ensure a secure data environment - unfortunately in my experience a lot of clients get unnecessarily worked up over this even when the proper protections are in place.

I am more or less the only person on my team with my set of qualifications and certain skills, so I hope that will help convince them. I am not irreplaceable, but yes it would be less work for them to keep me even if it means having to do it from several states away.

[Anonymous]

NP here. What are the actual mechanics of approaching this? Does OP write up a short persuasive proposal and then ask for a follow-up meeting? Does she raise the idea for the first time in person? Or....

[Anonymous]

OP here, I'm thinking it would depend on your rapport with whomever you're presenting to. For example my "practice group"/team is small - <20 in a company of 700+, and I have an established, positive, and nurturing if you will, relationship with my boss and his right hand man. While they love a good structured plan, I think my strategy will be to sit down in person and propose the idea verbally, having already thought out some of the granier details. I think I'll then ask if they'd like me to create a written plan for this. I expect them to be disappointed with the news but suggest that we feel out the possibilities with others like HR and see if we can't get it to work.

In an environment where it's more formal, or where you're unsure of your relationship or the expected outcome, I'd probably draw up a plan and present in person.

Still, I'd also love to hear from others how they actually did this.

[Anonymous]

I just granted one of my direct reports permission to do this on a three month trial basis. It was through verbal discussions, but I think I would feel more optimistic about it working out if he had taken the initiative to write up a more detailed plan. We are a pretty casual non profit office, though with too few written policies for my comfort level, but that's how senior management prefers to run things.

Definitely give it a shot. You seek to have nothing to lose. A website called something like workoptions was helpful for me in negotiating an unconventional schedule in my previous position.

[Anonymous]

Best of luck to you. One of my colleagues has been working from 2000 miles away for more than a year and our boss has recently told her out of the blue that she can no longer support her telework. I think the major problems were lack of face time to build/maintain their relationship and expenses related to the occasional trips to DC which included, air, downtown hotel, and per diem when we are supposed to be cutting expenses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks for all of the input. It would be one hour earlier and yes I'd be willing to work on ET as needed. I would be able to have a dedicated office at home which I agree would help. I already have to use my own phone and internet for work purposes because I don't currently have a dedicated office/line, so that'd be no different and I'm willing to continue to pay for that aspect. I wouldn't be as willing to pay for each trip back to HQ so I guess that's a possible point of contention.

The other potential issue is that the reason I can work from home easily now is that the contracts I am on don't require, by nature of the actual contract, working on site. If there was to be an important contract that required even some work on site I obviously couldn't do that. Another potential problem is if my role on a contract requires access to data - something which existing contracts don't require but we anticipate they will within the next year. I suppose we would have to negotiate this aspect with client and ensure a secure data environment - unfortunately in my experience a lot of clients get unnecessarily worked up over this even when the proper protections are in place.

I am more or less the only person on my team with my set of qualifications and certain skills, so I hope that will help convince them. I am not irreplaceable, but yes it would be less work for them to keep me even if it means having to do it from several states away.

I had a 90% telework arragement with a prior employer. It was a pretty good arrangement until a new boss ran the numbers and decided that paying for me to come to HQ 2X a month was more expensive than the overhead it would have cost for me to be in the office - especially since my salary was the same. I was living in a place where an airline ticket to HQ alone was $500. In order for the new boss to get on board, I agreed to cover the trips 50-50 and pay for every other one myself. I do not know if your company has video/web conferencing capability but that seems to work for the people at my current job who telework. GL

[Anonymous]

One issue my DW has with working remotely is that her company will only allow her to live in a limited number of states. Presumably they don't want to have to set up tax withholding for those other states.