Moving to another city, but want to keep job
lis...@msn.com
from Texas to Upstate NY. The move is mostly due to wanting a change -
we both love to ski and also want to be near NYC. We've been in
Houston for 15 years and we're ready for something new. Problem is, I
love my job and I don't want to leave it. So I want to ask my boss if
I can telecommute. He is very flexible with folks working from home
and I do work from home every now and then - there are many people here
that telecommute part-time (like Mon/Wed/Fri). And there are several
people here that telecommute from other cities because their husbands
got transferred. But, these are different situations because they got
transferred - we are actually choosing to move.
Could you give me advice on how to handle this? My gut tells me that
he'll be fine with this, but I want to make sure I'm ready to cover his
questions and concerns. Has anyone had any experience with something
like this or have been in this situation with one of your employees?
Any advice appreciated.
Thanks!
Simon Reed
lis...@msn.com writes
>After years of consideration, my husband and I have decided to move
>from Texas to Upstate NY. The move is mostly due to wanting a change -
>we both love to ski and also want to be near NYC. We've been in
>Houston for 15 years and we're ready for something new.
>Problem is, I
>love my job and I don't want to leave it.
That sentence is important.
> So I want to ask my boss if
>I can telecommute. He is very flexible with folks working from home
>and I do work from home every now and then - there are many people here
>that telecommute part-time (like Mon/Wed/Fri). And there are several
>people here that telecommute from other cities because their husbands
>got transferred. But, these are different situations because they got
>transferred - we are actually choosing to move.
That depends upon how you package it. The other people were choosing to
move - they didn't have to. They could have chosen to stay and find a
new employer.
The other way of looking at it is that you are being transferred. You
feel you can no longer happily support your relationship and general
well-being without moving. You feel you would be happier in a new
location. So much so, that you would consider walking out of a job you
love. It is that important to you.
Then there is always the possibility you might just want to move back,
or even somewhere else.
If you can do your job from home, you can do it from anywhere - it does
not matter where home is. With a fast Internet connection, even face to
face meetings can happen.
>Could you give me advice on how to handle this? My gut tells me that
>he'll be fine with this,
If you prepare for a battle, you'll win it without a fight.
You need to move for personal reasons (which are just as valid as "my
partner got transferred") but want to continue in your current job. In
return for your employer's flexibility, you will be happier, more
devoted to the company, accept some slack in the job description and
working hours - what else is there you can add to that to offer in
exchange if need be? But be clear in your own mind that you will be
moving regardless of what the boss says.
Things to consider:
- how is your performance measured? By the hour or by results? How
will that work when you move? Have answers ready.
- what happens when you are 'off sick'? How will you manage not being
available? (There won't be an empty desk to make it obvious)
- what happens when you are on holiday (do I mean "vacation"?)? How do
you make them leave you alone?
- what happens when someone needs to speak to you RIGHT NOW OR ELSE?
(mobile phone)
- what happens when you need to speak to someone in the office RIGHT NOW
OR ELSE? (Does that really happen? Really? Who will die if that
conversation happens the day after tomorrow? Now tell the boss that
about trying to contact you!)
- PC and office support: what happens when the fax machine / PC pack up?
Do you want the company to manage them or will you do it yourself for a
lump sum per annum?
- there are loads of insurance issues but I don't know US law on such
matters but they are should be cheap and easy to fix. Mind you, from
what we hear over hear about US attorneys, maybe it won't be so cheap...
- will you cope with not socialising with colleagues? How?
- how about suggesting you start teleworking this afternoon without
going in for a month. What will prevent that working? Find answers.
- you will need something like "a virtual private network connection
into the company LAN on a fast connection so I can send/receive email
and stuff" or whatever your IT section suggest instead.
- find two virtual communities: one for teleworkers and one for your
industry. Either mailing lists or web forums. Or, do an online search
for "telecottages" and "televillages" in the area you are going to.
- are you confident you can telework? Make sure you express that
confidence to your boss.
An extra. Consider this: if you break a leg skiing on holiday, you'll
be off sick for ages and do no work. If you go teleworking in Upstate
NYC and break a leg skiing in your own time at the weekend, you'll
probably be working at home on Monday. What will be your boss's
reaction to that?
> but I want to make sure I'm ready to cover his
>questions and concerns.
If you were in his position, what would your objections be? Treat it
like an interview: how do you prepare for them?
> Has anyone had any experience with something
>like this or have been in this situation with one of your employees?
>Any advice appreciated.
>
>
>Thanks!
Hope that's helpful.
--
Simon Reed, ukbt<at>sandj.demon.co.uk or use the 'Reply-To' address.
A volunteer moderator (AKA "another net nannie in a petticoat") of
uk.business.telework And no, of course I've got nothing better to do.
Chris Croughton
<Spam...@sandj.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> - what happens when someone needs to speak to you RIGHT NOW OR ELSE?
> (mobile phone)
> - what happens when you need to speak to someone in the office RIGHT NOW
> OR ELSE? (Does that really happen? Really? Who will die if that
> conversation happens the day after tomorrow? Now tell the boss that
> about trying to contact you!)
Consider Skype and other Voice-over-IP services. The company for which
I work is expecting to save thousands a month by using them instead of
telephone (and increase privacy and reduce disturbance to other people
at nearby desks). Some of them allow 'conference' calls as well, free
unlike ordinary telecom ones. And you can 'chat' by instant messenger
type services at the same time, look up stuff on the computer, etc.
which you can't do as easily (if at all) in normal meetings.
> - you will need something like "a virtual private network connection
> into the company LAN on a fast connection so I can send/receive email
> and stuff" or whatever your IT section suggest instead.
The OP said that they do work from home at the moment, so presumably
those are already worked out, but it's worth checking that they are
usable all the time. When I work from home I'm using VPN over a fairly
slow connection (300/64kbps cable) and using MS Virtual Desktop and it's
quite usable.
Another point is to make sure that where you move to have a reliable
broadband service, of course...
> An extra. Consider this: if you break a leg skiing on holiday, you'll
> be off sick for ages and do no work. If you go teleworking in Upstate
> NYC and break a leg skiing in your own time at the weekend, you'll
> probably be working at home on Monday. What will be your boss's
> reaction to that?
That's a plus where I am now, often when people are sick they can work
from home just as well even if they can't drive or use public transport.
I've done it, and we've had people off for long periods after accidents
who've done it as well. Everyone gains.
Another extra -- if you currently commute to work for any longish time
(over an hour) you could agree to do longer hours, say half of your
travel time (so if you currently commute an hour each way, you could
agree to do an hour extra and still have gained an hour free).
> If you were in his position, what would your objections be? Treat it
> like an interview: how do you prepare for them?
Games theory: pretend that you are your opponent and try to play
"devil's advocate" with yourself. Or get a spouse or friend to play
that part. Write down the results (you can sort them out later) or if
you are doing it "face to face" record the 'interview' and review it
later.
It sounds to me as though a lot of the hard part is already solved for
the OP, in my experience if a company already does tele-commuting of
some form it's a lot easier to persuade them to let you do it full-time.
It's the companies who haven't done it before which are the real
problem...
(Good luck to the OP...)
Chris C