When is the best time to ask to work remotely full-time?

June 11, 2021 2:45 PM

For quality of life reasons (related to physical and political climate, amongst other factors) my partner and I are determined to move from our town of residence to another, more suitable location - ideally in the next year or two. I am investigating work in the other town, but my current job is secure, interesting, and well-paid. When is the best time to discuss the possibility of full-time remote work with my boss? (Plot twist: Promotion!)

The wrinkle here is that I've just been offered a significant promotion. More money, more responsibilities, and it will give me experience that will put me in good position if/when looking for jobs in the future. It's a solid step up, quantitatively and qualitatively.

My boss is (historically) not a great believer in full-time remote work. It is rare, but but unheard of at my workplace. Boss is a generally decent person and we get along well, but they tend to be very much "we do what's best for the organization" (Which I get - looking after the interests of the corporation is their job.)

One option I'm considering is to discuss the remote work option with my my boss (who will remain my boss after promotion) while we hammer out salary and so on. My fear about this approach is that they'll decide "no, remote work is not on the table" and that may... if not poison the well exactly, it could indicate to them that I'm likely to leave. I'm wary of just saying "eh, okay, no big deal!" because this is important to me, and being clear about that may tip the balance in my favour. Having the discussion at this point also opens the door for trading $$ for remote work - which I'd totally be open to.

Another option is to wait until I'm a few months into the new position, and (hopefully) am succeeding and (implicitly) my leaving to get another job would be disruptive for my employer.

Neither option seems ideal. In general, I believe in being honest with ones employers, but I also know from long experience, your employer is not your friend, and sometimes we have to act strategically to get what we want in the workplace.

I like to think I am a valued employee - the promotion certainly supports that belief.

So... have people been in similar situations? If so, when did you ask for the... favour, I guess, whether remote work or whatever? How did that go? Are there other options I'm not considering? Thank you!

(I read this recent post, but I feel like the promotion and timing implications make this sufficiently different to warrant a new ask.)

posted by anonymous to Work & Money (10 answers total)

Did you remote work for months on end during COVID? Did that show your boss that you can do your job while remote? Maybe their opinion has changed on remote work after having it thrust on them.

I guess I commented in that other thread too. Ha. But anyways, I just approached this whole thing matter of factly. I said "Hey look, I'm getting married and moving. I like my job. I enjoy what I do. I would love to keep doing it remotely after I move. Let me know."

I asked this about a month before I was going to move. It was out of the blue and they had no idea. They did not answer immediately, which I had no problem with. If they did not answer in 2 weeks I would have given my 2 weeks notice. They answered in 3 days and said it was ok. I said great and moved after a month and have been remote ever since.

I personally wouldn't try to buy what I wanted from them; I wouldn't offer to take a pay cut in exchange for working remotely. The point is that you can effectively do your job remotely and your salary is what they offer you to do your job. Taking a pay cut is like saying you admit you won't work as much or be as effective, and I don't think that line of thinking helps you in this situation.

Each company is going to deal with remote workers in different ways. Some fully embrace it. Some begrudgingly. Some just don't want to deal with it. Because of the past 15 months more places will know how they feel about it because of experience though!
posted by cmm at 3:08 PM on June 11, 2021

Are you willing to leave your job if you cannot work remotely? If you're looking at a timeframe of a year or two, I'd be inclined to see what the landscape looks like closer to your move being a reality. A lot can happen in a year or two. Once you're actively looking to move, with a more concrete timeline thats measured in a few months, I'd approach the topic then where the threat of being a flight risk is a little more concrete. No sense rocking the boat until you need too.
posted by cgg at 3:48 PM on June 11, 2021

I don't have a strategy for when to ask to work remote, but I recently just up and asked and got approval. In my case, all my company asked was that I agree to work for them for a certain (as yet undetermined) time, which seems like maybe a better idea than decreasing compensation - no hit to your valance sheet and you prove you're committed to working for the company.
posted by LionIndex at 5:01 PM on June 11, 2021

I would wait until about the same time you would start looking for work in your new town. Whether that's 2-3 months before the move, or around 6 months before. Why? It's possible your employer will say no and then you will need to look for a new job anyway. Besides, a lot can change in the next year. Maybe you can get the company to agree to it now, but they change their minds a month before you leave. Or maybe you come across a job opportunity in the new town you can't turn down and then you don't need to ask your current employer about remote work at all. Not only do you have a boss who is not a fan of remote work, but employers, as long as the requirements stay within the law, are allowed to change the requirements of a job whenever they want for any reason they want (and in turn employees are allowed to say no to the changes and quit). They could promise remote work now and decide later it just isn't feasible for your role. And as you said, it could poison the well, make them think it's "remote work or else" (which in a way it is), and if they need to go through layoffs later this year, you'll be on their list of potential cutbacks.
posted by Meldanthral at 5:13 PM on June 11, 2021

I would ask now while you're negotiating the promotion. I would say, "One thing that I believe would maximize my productivity in this new role would be to work remotely. I'd e willing to compromise on salary for the promotion in exchange for a remote work opportunity." If you can provide evidence that you were more productive during previous (e.g. COVID) remote work, or examples of how this arrangement will benefit the company or your capability in the new role, cite those. I wouldn't mention the possibility of your move. If they say no now you can bring it up again more forcefully (and perhaps with a competing job offer in hand) when you are ready to move, and they won't be surprised, but if you negotiate terms of the promotion now and then in a few months ask for remote work for the first time, you've both lost your negotiating leverage and they're likely to see you as pulling a bait and switch on the terms of the job you just accepted.
posted by shadygrove at 6:11 PM on June 11, 2021

I would wait. I am assuming this promotion will be taking some new tasks and responsibilities. Giving yourself some time in the new job can remove any doubts about what your worth is in the new position. I would be worried that bringing up now could put your promotion in doubt. A year or so in the new role puts you in a better place to ask for what you need with a more plausible threat that you will find another job if they don't accommodate you.
posted by metahawk at 8:13 PM on June 11, 2021

I think cmm has the right idea. If the options are "promote you, but then you're planning on moving within a year anyway and then lose you" or "promote you, HEY we get to keep you as long as it's at a distance," maybe you have more leverage for them to want to give you that option.
posted by jenfullmoon at 8:22 PM on June 11, 2021

How far away is that new town? If it's like, 2 hours away, you could consider negotiating for something like 2 days / month in the office now. "I've discovered that I'm far more effective when working remotely and would like to continue, with a few days / month in the office."

If you think you're really likely to get a No, and you're okay coming in now, I'd do that and then negotiate when the time is closer. The new role will help you get a new job, you'll be more established, and maybe remote work will be even more standard and common.
posted by slidell at 8:48 AM on June 12, 2021

Life is short and as is often said no one ever died saying they wanted to spend more time in the office, promoted or no. It's even worse when you're shuttling back and forth to the office in a crappy climate. I am hella glad I got out of the northeast US when I did (spring 2019).

I would plan with the idea of improving quality of life (physical / political climate) at the top of the list. You could easily get another job and be promoted there too. OR you can use your impending promotion at current job as a selling point.

In terms of specific points, Meldanthral has it closest to what I would do.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 9:54 AM on June 12, 2021

If you're not moving for another year or two, definitely ask after the promotion, or a month or so before you are ready to move. Losing you on a short notice would put more pressure for them to say OK to remote work. They might still say no (my job did, for HR reasons), and I was ok with quitting anyway, so be mentally prepared for that possibility.
posted by never.was.and.never.will.be. at 9:00 PM on June 12, 2021