You can wait, and see what arrangements your organization announces for working from home or the office, flexibility (or not) in working hours and start times.
Or you can ask and negotiate. Think back to pre-pandemic days.
- Were you happy with your ability to work some days from home?
- Were you OK with your required start and end times?
- Did it work for you to be “on” 24-7?
No? Well the time is now to ask for what you’d prefer.
Right now, most employers are scrambling to figure out the framework for post-pandemic work. The C-Suite is busy coming up with new guidelines.
Times of change can be times of opportunity.
Your requests may or may not influence policy for your whole organization.
But your request can nudge your immediate boss to grant you flexibility. You’ve probably got some leverage, since your boss wants to keep you. And with a labor shortage in some fields, employers may be super eager to make sure you don’t move on to greener pastures as the job market heats up further.
Steps to consider:
Step 1. Think hard about what you want.
Working at least 3 days from home? Or not starting work till 10? Or not responding to emails, texts or calls after 6:30 and on weekends? (This isn’t a great time for most employees to be asking for a raise.)
Step 2. Plan your ask.
Plan what you’ll say to show your boss how productive you’ve proven working from home. Or point out that meetings — in office or virtual — can be clustered between 10 and 3. Those old 8:00 am stand-ups don’t have to be at 8:00.
Step 3. Make the Ask
Say what you’d like and why. Explain why it will maintain and perhaps enhance your productivity. Point out stories you’ve researched or heard about other organizations that allow what you are seeking. (Careful here; stay very positive about your organization, and show enthusiasm for the work you are doing. Bosses like happy, engaged staff.)
That’s it. Oh, one more thing. Consider whether you can risk telling colleagues about what you’re asking for. They may decide to ask for similar arrangements.
Bosses may hate this, but might listen nonetheless. Individual bosses may be able to grant requests like no weekend phone or email checking or individual start times, whereas policy on working from home may be set at a higher level. Even so, your — and others’ — requests may influence the policies being set right now.
Your work life could get better. Act fast.