Businesses and enterprises have implemented flexible work arrangements on a large scale in reaction to the limits imposed by Covid-19. Employees who have never considered working from home previously are discovering a new appreciation for the freedom that remote work provides.
We'll go through how to negotiate flexible working hours with any company in this article. Just bear in mind that whether or not your employer is able and willing to provide you with flexible working hours is ultimately up to them and their policies.
5 steps to negotiate flexible work arrangements
1. Review your employee contract
Determine if your employer already provides flexible working hours. If this is the case then assess if these arrangements are open to everyone or just after a particular time of probation—or whether they are something they do not already provide.
Next, go over your own particular employment contract to see if there's anything that might affect your proposal. It's pointless to prepare to visit your employer and request that they end at 3 p.m. every day when your contract requires you to be available until 4 p.m. This is probably something that can't be altered, and trying to persuade your boss to make these changes is unlikely to succeed.
2. Prepare a plan
Working from home or working odd hours impacts the bottom line, which must be considered when navigating negotiation. Address this worry by laying up a strategy for communicating with those who rely on you for quick service.
Provide proof of how the change will increase production, morale, and the effectiveness of the company. A detailed written plan must be set out ahead of time to quell any potential opposition, demonstrating how a reorganized timetable would overall benefit the firm.
3. Propose a trial period
If your company doesn't currently provide flexible work hours, they could be hesitant to do so unless you can show that you'll be just as efficient. You may offer a trial period to calm everyone's nerves and persuade yourself that you can operate in a different way than you're used to.
This is a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate how valuable this can be for you and your company, so consider keeping your company updated on your progress. You'll still need to do the same amount of work, as usual, so make sure you have the resources to do so while you're experimenting with your new working arrangements.
4. Be flexible
Keep an eye out for rigidity in your proposition while you seek flexibility for yourself. Learn about the company's culture. Some reluctance may be understandable given a lack of expertise in managing off-site employees. If your boss initially disagrees, be ready to give a backup plan or two.
5. Ask
First, double-check that your request does not conflict with a critical deadline or a massive project. Then, with a clear plan in hand, submit your flexible working ideas to your supervisor on a low-stress day. Propose a trial time for implementing your proposal, so he doesn't think it's an all-or-nothing proposition. Give him some time to consider it, then follow up in a week or two.