- What are good reasons to ask to work from home?
- Improving schedule flexibility
- Avoiding the commute
- Increase your productivity
- Customizing your workplace
- Lowering stress levels
- Saving time and money
- 4 Tips on how to ask to work from home
- 1. Do your research
- 2. Make a list of benefits for your organization
- 3. Create a clear plan for remote working
- 4. Find the right time to make the request
- 3 Examples of messages to ask to work from home
- Key takeaways
Some companies are bringing workers back to the office, but there’s no doubt that remote work isn’t going anywhere. If remote working is right for you, we’ll give you the rundown on how to ask to work from home and enjoy a better work-life balance.
COVID-19 turned the world on its head, including how we conduct our work. Remote work began as a necessity, but now it seems that more and more people are returning to the office. However, there may still be a way that you can make a work-from-home arrangement work for you.
If your company wants you to return to the office and you’re wondering how to ask to work from home, we’ve got you covered with helpful tips and examples to make your request smooth and effective.
What are good reasons to ask to work from home?
Advancements in technology, combined with a greater focus on work-life balance, are driving a shift in global workplace structures. While some companies are now requiring employees to report back to the office, many organizations are realizing the benefits of working from home and keeping some employees remote.
Here are a few reasons you might consider working from home:
Improving schedule flexibility
One of the greatest benefits of working from home is being able to set your own working hours. Even though finding a balance between work and personal commitments can seem a bit difficult, this aspect has more benefits than drawbacks.
Instead of working a fixed nine-to-five schedule, you can talk to your employer about working more flexible hours. Similarly, you can utilize your breaks throughout the day to tend to personal matters such as grocery shopping, exercise, or even an afternoon nap.
Avoiding the commute
For those who spend hours every morning navigating heavy traffic to reach their office, remote working can make a huge difference in stress levels! Working from home eliminates both the stress of commuting and the fatigue that results from long drives or rides on public transit.
Another perk of working from home is that you won’t necessarily need to live close to your office. You could work from a different neighborhood, city, or even country. Be sure to talk to your employer and determine how far away you are allowed to live.
Increase your productivity
Think about all of the distractions at work: constant office noise, chatty colleagues, meetings that could have been emails, water cooler conversations, and even doughnuts. Now, imagine a way to keep all of these distractions (and pastries) at bay.
When you’re working from home, you get to sit in a quiet, well-lit area that is set up just for you. This allows you to focus on getting as much work done in as little time as possible. If you’re someone who thrives in solitude, working remotely could be just the thing to keep you productive.
In general, yes. While it depends on the field, a few randomized studies have found an increase in employee productivity, as well as lower job turnover due to increased employee satisfaction. Though a few other small studies have found a slight decrease in productivity in the short run.
That said, a 2024 study found “little relationship between labor productivity and the ability of workers in an industry to work entirely remotely,” meaning the effect of working remotely was neutral, and neither decreased nor increased productivity.
In the end, it depends on the employee as to whether they will be more or less productive when working from home.
Customizing your workplace
While you can often add personal touches to your cubicle or other workspace in the office, working from home allows you to take workspace customization to the next level. A well-designed workspace at home can improve your motivation and productivity at work.
When you work from home, you get to choose your work desk, office chair, decor, wallpaper, and supplies, instead of relying on the standard equipment offered by your office. However, it’s a good idea to keep clutter to a minimum so that you can stay focused on your work.
Lowering stress levels
With all of the benefits offered by remote working, it’s no surprise that those who work from home tend to experience less work-related stress than those who go into the office every day.
From stressful commutes to office politics, there are several triggers you can avoid by asking to work from the comfort of your own home.
Saving time and money
Not only will working from home save you money on gas or public transit fare, but you may also be able to claim your home office space as a tax deduction depending on your state.
You also don’t have to spend your valuable time picking out work clothes or sitting in traffic. Your commute is merely the walk from your bedroom to your home office (perhaps with a stop in the kitchen for breakfast first).
All of this can save you time in the morning and afternoon, allowing you to start your work day more well-rested and focused with a few more dollars in your pocket.
4 Tips on how to ask to work from home
As we recover from the pandemic, many organizations have been mandating a return to the office. If your organization is not in favor of remote working, but you feel more comfortable and productive staying at home, here are four tips for preparing your case to ask to work from home.
1. Do your research
Before deciding how to ask to work from home, it’s important to understand the landscape of remote work in your industry and its relation to your role. Are your employer’s competitors currently offering remote working opportunities? Could you easily perform your job duties without being physically in the office every day?
Talk to your colleagues at work and see if there are any employees, departments, or supervisors who are already allowed to work from home. Your organization may have a work-from-home policy that you’re not aware of.
2. Make a list of benefits for your organization
When preparing your case for remote working, it’s important to think about all of the ways your organization will benefit by allowing you to work from home.
Here are a few questions to ask yourself:
How will your productivity improve if you work from home?
If you’re skipping the commute, can you start work earlier or end later?
Could you work different hours, if needed?
Do you have a well-designed office space at home?
Are there any barriers that affect your ability to work in the office?
Remember, it's important to emphasize how this will be a positive thing for your employer by focusing on things like reduced costs, increased productivity, improved morale, and how this arrangement can prove useful for other team members.
3. Create a clear plan for remote working
After you’ve done your research and you’re ready to talk to your supervisor, prepare a detailed plan of action. This could include a summary of the reasons why you want to work from home, what your schedule will look like, and how you will manage your tasks and time at home.
Make sure that this action plan also ties back to the list of benefits that you identified in the previous step.
4. Find the right time to make the request
As with most things, timing is everything. A work-from-home request is more likely to be approved when the supervisor trusts their employees’ dedication, quality of work, and overall work ethic. If you’re fairly new to the company, you might want to wait a bit.
To further improve your chances of getting your request approved, consider making the request after completing a major project at work or successfully achieving a valuable milestone.
Before you make your request, establish a system for measuring and monitoring your work performance and regularly communicate these results to your supervisor. When the time comes to ask to work from home, your supervisor will be well aware of your progress and have a proven system in place to evaluate your performance.
Yes, employers reserve the right to refuse an employee’s request to work from home. However, the refusal must be based on valid grounds.
Here are a few reasons an employer might refuse a remote work request:
The nature of your job. Some positions require in-person attendance, such as repair technicians, health care, or law enforcement.
The business impact. If an employee has demonstrated a need for close supervision to achieve their targets, or other ways the bottom line would suffer significantly, the employer can refuse the employee’s request to work from home.
Employer costs. Many companies have invested a lot into their office space and will have to bear maintenance, utilities, and other expenses irrespective of whether their employees come in. These companies may either mandate that everyone come back to the office or get rid of all remote workers to cut costs.
Supervision challenges. When people work from home, it becomes more difficult to monitor and review their performance. This poses a challenge for mid-level and senior managers who are responsible for assessing the performance of their team members.
3 Examples of messages to ask to work from home
While you can make your request in person, it’s also fine if you’d prefer to ask in writing. We've created three options to help you craft how to ask to work from home.
Keep in mind that you may have to compromise and settle on a hybrid situation. We’ve included an example below that you can use if you feel that’s your best option. Of course, you’ll want to customize any of these examples to fit your situation.
Subject: Request to continue working from home
Dear Ms. Carlson:
As you know, I have been working from home full-time since I was hired at the start of the pandemic in 2020. I've found that my focus, attention to detail, and productivity have remained high without the typical distractions of working in-person. I also live a large distance from the office, and my commute would add a significant burden.
I realize that the company has called employees back to the office, but since we have no official policy against remote work, would it be possible for me to continue my current situation?
To this end, I can offer the following benefits:
I can adjust my work hours, starting earlier or later as needed.
I am willing to come into the office for important meetings and conferences.
I will also be available at [phone number] in case you need to reach me quickly in an emergency. If there is a particular communication platform you prefer and would like me to be on during working hours, please let me know.
As always, you can reach me via phone or email at any point during the workday. I really appreciate being part of your team, and I love the work that I do for [Company Name].
Thank you so much for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mary Smith
Subject: Request to work from home on a trial basis
Dear Mr. Tucker,
As you’re aware, my desk is in a fairly bustling area of the office. Since I’m in regular communication with our clients every day, this has become both a challenge and a distraction. I've also received several emails from clients informing me that they have issues with this background noise when discussing sensitive account information.
I’m aware that our company has recalled its employees since the end of the pandemic. However, moving my desk to a quieter area isn’t an option due to the location of our team and limited space options. Given these challenges, I was wondering if I could return to a remote situation on a trial basis?
I believe that going back to my home office, which is still ideally set up for my position’s current needs, would eliminate these challenges and distractions. This would allow me to address my clients’ concerns, as well as improve my focus and productivity.
If you remember, I consistently met our team productivity goals while working from home, and I know that will continue. Of course, I would still be available via email, Slack, or phone at any point in the workday.
I look forward to discussing this further and hearing your thoughts. Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Riley Atwood
Subject: Request to change to a hybrid work schedule
Dear Ms. Jones,
I would like to ask to change my in-office work schedule to a hybrid schedule. I am interested in working remotely on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and working in-person on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Since the end of the pandemic, both my husband and I have had to return to the office, which has affected our child care situation. Working from home three days a week would allow us to better manage our child care appointments without taking up as much valuable time.
Additionally, I believe that working remotely on these days will allow me to focus more on my work tasks, resulting in increased productivity, fewer distractions, and timely project completion.
Of course, I will be available via email, phone, and video conferencing during my work hours. I will also schedule regular check-ins and participate in all team meetings, whether in-person or virtual, to ensure smooth communication and workflow.
My home office is equipped with a reliable internet connection, as well as all of the necessary tools to perform my job duties effectively.
I am confident that I can maintain, or even exceed, my performance and team contributions in this hybrid arrangement. I would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and answer any questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Pat Thompson
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Key takeaways
Working from home is a good way to cut down on your commuting costs, improve your overall productivity, and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
Many companies are now having their employees return to the office, but you can request that your employer allow you to continue (or start) working from home.
When navigating how to ask to work from home, make sure to emphasize how it would benefit your employer in terms of productivity, cost, and morale.
