In light of the recent company policies set forth by Yahoo! and Best Buy – both companies recently mandated that all employees need to work on site – many people might think that telecommuting is no longer an option for them.
The good news is that they would be wrong! Between anecdotal evidence and a poll I recently posted on my LinkedIn group (I Want to Work in an Association—Now What???), most association employees work onsite AND telecommute – not exclusively one or the other.
I wasn’t really surprise by these findings. Almost every association career-related event I have attended touts the sector’s benefits when it comes to flexible schedules. Read on for tips on making telecommuting an option for you:
1) Discuss it with your boss: Be prepared to make your case, and explain why this is a good thing for the association. Think about your own unique situation, but one common selling point is that you’ll be more productive. With the many interruptions that come with working at the office, you’ll likely get more done at home.
2) Test the waters: Even if your dream is to telecommute 100% of the time, your supervisor might be more receptive if you start by asking for one or two days. To further sell her or him on the idea, propose a trial period. For example, you might both agree to revisit how the arrangement has been working out in six months. If all goes well, you’ll likely be able to continue working from home, and possibly score another day or two at the same time.
3) Find a new organization: Despite your best efforts, some associations just won’t be open to telecommuting, and it may not be possible for you to change the culture anytime soon. In this case, it may make sense for you to look elsewhere. Find out if a company is work-from-home friendly by asking contacts in your network and researching sites like glassdoor.com.
