As many of us have witnessed and experienced, the pandemic has practically forced the whole world to shut down and stay indoors. Employees that used to work in offices have now been working from home for months, and this has led to more time with family. But now that the world is slowly recovering, it’s now back to the office setup and many aren’t too happy about it.
If you’re one of the many employees who are dreading to go back out into the world, here are some tips to help convince your boss to let you continue your work from home setup.
Be Honest And Open
Because you can’t ever convey your emotions properly through the internet, it would be useless to conjure up a play-like introduction just to convince your boss. The one thing that you should note is that it is important that you be open and honest to effectively communicate your concerns about working back at the office. You can start off your explanation with the root of your hesitation, whether it’s the fear of contracting the virus or the need for you to be home to care for your family, both are understandable and reasonable.
Compromise
In the process of expressing your concerns, you should also be open to whatever objections your boss has thereby learning the art of compromise on your part. Should your boss still insist that you return to the office, you can point out and suggest specific safety measures to keep your mind at ease. You should not be shy about expressing your needs. After all, meeting these needs would lead to more beneficial protocols for the rest of the staff as well.
Provide Solutions
Another thing to note to help convince your boss to keep letting you work from home is to approach them with solutions, specifically for those issues that you and your colleagues encountered while being home quarantined. According to career experts, employers prefer their employees to be problem-solvers and not problem-starters. So maybe, get to listing the issues and their solutions before you schedule a one-on-one with your boss.
Proof Of Productivity
Understandably, your boss’ concerns will ultimately lead to a question of productivity. You can start by proving that you can make necessary changes to meet goals and deadlines even without being present at the office. To strengthen your case, you can present data on how you manage your time and contribute your efforts to the team all while working remotely.
Lastly, Know Your Rights
If you’ve laid out all your cards on the table and your employer is still not sympathetic to your health concerns, you can slowly and lightly nudge them by making them aware that it is within your legal rights. You can do research and most importantly, consult with an employment attorney to see whether your health and well-being is protected by the law as a disability.