"Maybe I can just work from home..."
If that’s the thought that went through your head when you heard about Metro's "Platform Improvement Plan" in Alexandria this summer, you aren’t alone.
Alexandria area residents, businesses and officials are preparing for Metro's Platform Improvement Project, which will close all Alexandria area stations for critical station platform restoration from May 25 through at least Sept. 8.
Some businesses aren’t as telecommuting-friendly as others. If your workplace is one of them, here are a few ways you can try to convince your higher-ups to let you try working from home.
Do your research first. There is a lot of research showing that remote workers are often happier, more productive and cost less money than on-site workers. Great sources for this information include well-regarded business publications like the Harvard Business Review and Gallup’s most recent State of the American Workplace report.
Figure out the logistics. You should be fully prepared with answers to questions about your hours, childcare situation (if applicable), where and how you’ll be working, and how you’ll ensure proprietary data and other company information remains secure.
If people in other departments are telecommuting, it’s a good idea to ask them how it’s working and what they’ve learned along the way in terms of pitfalls to avoid.
Start small. Telecommuting one day a week is better than none at all, and that will give you a chance to prove that the systems you put in place are working when you ask for more days.
Learn more about setting up your home office and finding a co-working space here.
