Negotating working remotely can definitely be done. Below are some tips to get even the most stubborn manager to let you give telecommuting a try.

We all have experienced mornings when we would rather stay in our slippers and turn off the traffic reports while sipping coffee and working from our home office. However, some bosses consider working from home as unproductive and only allowed it in the event of major plumbing or medical emergency. Fortunately, progress in technology has made it possible to stay in your PJs and also be productive.

Aside from snowstorms, doctor appointments and parent-teacher conferences, there are modern and legitimate reasons for desiring to work at home, including transporting kids to various activities, reducing gas consumption and carbon emissions, as well as avoiding the spread of contagious flu germs and viruses, not to mention all the hurdles employees face simply trying to get to the office five days a week. All of these things can lead to potential costly absenteeism and inefficiency, which is cause for concern.

With the advent of smartphones, laptop computers and remote technology, it looks like the days of being chained to your office may be over. And while the employee benefits of working remotely (also referred to as telecommuting and teleworking) may seem obvious, studies show that even for many organizations, the advantages of having a plan in place for remote workers far outweigh the costs. Surprisingly, studies have shown that stay-at-home workers are actually more productive than their cubicle counterparts and they report higher rates of job satisfaction. (New York Times Magazine, November 4, 2007). Also, according to an April 2009 Remote Revolution blog entry: “…occasional telecommuting is on a sharp increase in response to what (WorldatWork.org) defines as more high-speed internet marketing locations offering access in more places, increases in fuel and transportation costs, and a greater willingness on the part of employers to ’embrace work-life balance concepts.’” Statistics also show that the number of Americans working from home has increased by more than 74% since 2005. (WorldatWork Telework Trendlines, 2009).

We recommend having a plan in mind before speaking to your boss about the benefits of working from home. Number one, you will want to point out study results that demonstrate the higher productivity and job satisfaction rates among telecommuters. You might also disclose that companies with telework programs have found it increases employee retention, reducing the company’s costs associated with hiring and training new staff.

Since you have done your homework, at this point you know what kind of technology it will take to allow you to access your office files and programs from home. If necessary, you have researched your company’s VPN capabilities or taken a free trial of a remote computer access system, like LogMeIn or GotoMyPC, and can assure your boss you will be equally, if not more, effective working from home. You may also suggest that your boss allow you to work at home one day a week to allow you to demonstrate that you can still be as effective as working within the office.