NBR- Work at home moms

[baytosa2013]

I need some help/thoughts from the work at home moms, especially ones that worked in office prior or split time between the office and home.  I plan to propose working from home 2 days a week to my boss. I have been thinking about this since I was on maternity leave and I happen to have a review coming up in the next couple weeks where I'd like to try and discuss it. The help I need is how to do that (best way?) and what kinds of things I should think about/research to answer any questions/concerns she might have up front. 

 I am pretty sure she will shoot me down just because she is the type that wants all her people in front of her all the time because she likes to micro manage. I'd like to kind of strike while the iron is hot though on this because they missed me in my position while I was gone and asked several times to make sure I was coming back.  I feel like I at least have to ask the question and try because the worst that can happen is they tell me no.

So these are some things I've already thought of:

- Yes my job can be done at home...everything is 90% electronic and I do not deal with outside customers.

- Yes I have a dedicated office space at my home and the equipment necessary to work remotely other than a company laptop.

- I would only work from home 2 days a week (TBD by my boss is fine) and will work the remaining 3 in office 

- Yes I would be available and working during regular business hours 8-5

 - I do have some things I would be willing to give up/negotiate with if necessary

HALP!  I am one of those people terrible and negotiating for things because I feel like I'm asking for too much.  I'm trying to get better at this and would love any thoughts/input/ideas I may not have thought of.

[Deleted]

I suggest from a negotiating standpoint do not let them know you are willing to give anything up. I'm assuming you mean lower pay or benefits. I wouldn't mention it unless they bring it up.

I agree with PP that your conversation should be framed around how the company will benefit from you working at home.

[baytosa2013]

Aug 12, 2015 14:18:18 GMT -5 Kristykristyleelee said:

Will you have the baby with you in those days, or still in childcare? If in childcare, make sure to state that. If not, be prepared to be asked that question and to be asked how you will still be productive while taking care of baby.

Also, I would make a case that you will be more productive with working at home partially. More productive because less stressed, less interruptions. List reasons you will be less stressed, such as less time spent commuting during the week so more time with baby and better able to focus on work since less stressed.

Just make sure you state how your job will also benefit in this scenario. If you are the only one benefitting, she may not approve it, but if both you and your work will benefit, chances are better it'll be approved, IMO.

I do plan to have baby with me those days.  If it gets to the point that I am NOT as productive then I will take her to daycare which is literally 2 mins from my house.  Even if she is there I will still get more time with her because I can see her at lunch and I will not be commuting the 2 1/2 hours a day those 2 days.  Traffic here is completely stupid so I do think that I would be less stressed with fewer days commuting, more time with the kid, and also some time away from the kid coming in to the office.

@poppyc8 - I agree that I would wait for them to bring up an concessions rather than offering them but I do have some I'm willing to give in order to make it work.

[baytosa2013]

Aug 12, 2015 15:02:51 GMT -5 @freckleface said:

I will be working from home most of the time when I return from maternity leave. You're not asking for too much. Many companies allow new moms to have reduced schedules (i.e. 80%), work from home part or full time, etc.

How long have you been with this company? When I approached my managers about wanting to work from home after leave, my main point was that I have been with them for three years and because of this, they know that I do my job well and that I wouldn't take advantage of working from home.

I would be prepared for your boss to ask you how you would be able to focus on work if you're home with the baby. Or you can just address it upfront. I told my employer that I would be having a babysitter come for a few hours each day to allow me to schedule meetings during that time, run into the office if necessary, etc.

I went about it by expressing that I really wanted to continue working with my current employer but that it was important to me that I be able to spend as much time with my baby as possible as well, therefore the ideal situation for me would be to work from home with the help of a babysitter.

Honestly in this day and age, I feel like if you can do your job at home, it shouldn't be an issue, until it becomes an issue (i.e. people taking advantage, not actually working, etc). At the very least, she should let you have a trial run at it.

ETA: I agree with PP- don't offer to give anything up from the get go. If she is against it, negotiate by asking for a trial run with it.

I have been with the company for a little over 2 years (we moved here from another state for my husbands job) and in that time I have been offered additional opportunities including a lead position that will put me in line for future management positions.  This is small-mid size company and growing rapidly.  I know they appreciate my knowledge and commitment to my job.  I like the approach of "I'd like to stay with the company" because I really would.  I like the job and the people I work for but I also want the time with my daughter while she's small.

[paintdadanta]

I'm not a great negotiator either but I'd have to say an emphasis on availability can be key depending on your position. Most employers are reluctant to allow stay at home positions because they feel the employee is no longer available to handle situations that arise. Offer to do conference calls with your home office, stay online chat or email for easy access to them. If you want to get them on board, it has to be appealing to them and beneficial - not just to you. When I had back surgery a few years ago, this was how I won my boss over to the idea, plus I would constantly send in completed work so they knew I was still getting it done. Wish I could offer more advise but my current position is at home only as a freelance writer so I make my own schedule though deadlines are still rough.

[turtletyme]

I agree with all previous posters. I don't think that trying to get by without child care is a good solution (people I know who tried it weren't doing it for long, and most companies forbid it) but more power to you if you can.

I have been working from home 3 days per week for several years now. When I started, HR tried to give me the "you will forfeit raises and promotions to do this." I wanted it bad enough that I said ok, and neither of these things ended up being true, but you should advocate for yourself a lot better than I did.
Re: availability, it's been my calling card that I am more available than my colleagues (because I start work earlier in the morning when I don't have to commute) and it makes me invaluable in a crisis. Plus I carry my phone with me at all times throughout the house during work hours so that my client never thinks I am not there for them. Fingers crossed for you!

[Widget123]

Ill comment from the perspective of a boss who has had work at home employees before. A lot of it is about trust for me. At my job recurring telework and situational teleworking is very common but I personally find being at home extremely distracting and perform much better while physically at the office. I can tell some of the people on my team are easily distracted and less productive at home like me or when people request telework simply to slack off, therefore I am hesitant to approve recurring telework for those people. On the contrary, I used to have a mother of two that I completely trusted; I let her work whenever she wanted, even the wee hours of the morning, 100% at home.

If you've teleworked before your boss probably knows where you stand on the spectrum. Don't be surprised if your boss suggests you start out 1 day a week from home then work up to 2 days.

[baytosa2013]

So I just wanted to update for those who gave me some advice. I finally got up the nerve to talk to my supervisor. She didn't totally shoot it down but said that she would need to propose it to the owners and HR. She also told me that it might impact me being able to move up since they were hoping to move me from being a lead into a supervisor and she didn't think that would work with me being out of the office 2 days a week. I feel like if they approved it, I will have to choose. Do I get more time with my (potentially) only child while she is young and possibly forfeit advancement or do I commit to being a leader for our department and forfeit that additional time with my child.

I'm honestly a little upset that it has to be that way but it's not set in stone I guess..it's her first reaction to it and the owners may not see it that way so I'm just waiting it out until they come back to me with some kind of answer. At that point I will make a decision. I told her that I was open to a trial period or any other suggestions that they might have and she said that she would think about it over the next few days and really see how it could work/not work.

I at least feel better that I said my peace and am praying it all works out how it's supposed to. Thanks everyone for all your input, it was helpful going in with a plan and an outline of what I was looking to do.

[turtletyme]

I was hoping for a slightly more positive update, but I am still praying that it works out! Good job speaking up!

[baytosa2013]

Aug 21, 2015 12:16:18 GMT -5 turtletyme said:

I was hoping for a slightly more positive update, but I am still praying that it works out! Good job speaking up!

Thank you...and to everyone else.  I was just told they decided that no I cannot do work at home.  They aren't willing to deal with how it would affect the rest of the company at this point.  I guess I will need to take some time and discuss with DH me potentially taking on a lower paying P/T job to make up the difference of what I bring home now minus day care or if I just have to suck it up and stay.  I'm really, really disappointed.  Boo.