There are plenty of reasons why you might want to request working from home. Maybe you have a long commute and would like to use that time for something more productive. Maybe you have a young child at home and need to be available for childcare. Whatever your reasons, there are a few things to keep in mind if you want to make a case for working from home.
First, remember that you are not the only one who may be affected by your request. If you have a team that you work closely with, they will need to be on board with your plan as well. You will need to be able to clearly explain how working from home will benefit not just you, but also the team and the company.
Second, be prepared to offer a plan. Your company will want to know how you will stay connected and productive while working from home. What tools will you need? How will you stay in touch with your team? What is your backup plan if something goes
- Research the landscape in your industry and organization. …
- Emphasize the benefits to your organization. …
- Create a clear and specific remote work plan. …
- Time your request carefully. …
- Ask in-person, not via email. …
- Come prepared to lead the meeting. …
- Expect some discomfort, but don’t be dissuaded.
What to include in an email when requesting to work from home
There are a few crucial details to include in an email requesting to work from home. Look over the following list to determine what to ask for in a work-from-home request:
Your reasoning for wanting to work from home
It’s crucial to give your employer a reason or reasons for your request when asking to work from home. This clarifies why you want to work from home and encourages them to think about the possibility. Family obligations, health issues, stress from commuting, or other factors could serve as examples. You decide how much information to share with your employer, but be sure to give them enough to make an informed decision about your work-from-home request.
The amount of time you want to work from home
When requesting to work from home via email, it’s important to be clear about your intentions, including whether you want to do so regularly, occasionally, or permanently. By doing this, you can avoid having a misunderstanding with your employer when you first start talking. Examples include asking your employer if you can work from home on Fridays due to bad traffic on your commute, asking to make your job a permanent work from home position, or asking to work from home over the course of the next few months due to an injury.
Your dedication to the company and its goals
You have the chance to express your continued support for your employer and your desire to work for them in a work-from-home request email. This is a crucial section of a work-from-home request email because it explains why you want to work from home and why those reasons are personal rather than professional. You can transition to how working from home can enable you to improve your job contributions by including a statement of your loyalty.
Examples that highlight positive aspects of working from home
Include a few instances of how working from home could enhance your work ethic to help persuade your employer that it is a good idea. For instance, you might be able to start or finish work earlier or later because you won’t have to worry about commuting, or you might be able to concentrate in a peaceful environment without outside distractions.
Suggestions or ideas to help your employer make the decision
You should include a few concessions or suggestions in your work-from-home email request to make your employer more willing to grant your request. You could be given the opportunity to work from home once or twice per week for the duration of the following month in order to observe how it affects business operations, or you could be required to enroll in an online course on productivity tactics or telecommunications.
A forward-looking conclusion statement to continue the discussion
To ensure that you give your employer a favorable impression of working from home, end your email with a forward-looking statement. The final sentence can also be used to suggest a time and date to continue the conversation with them.
Why request to work from home over email?
Email is the best way to start the conversation with your employer about working from home, as it serves as a springboard for further in-person discussions. This is crucial because it gives you the chance to explain why you want to work from home and how you plan to present your ideas. Starting with an email is also beneficial because it gives your employer a written record to refer to, whereas a verbal conversation may be difficult for them to recall.
Five work-from-home request email examples
You can email your employer to ask to work from home in a number of efficient ways. Here are 5 illustrations you can use as models when creating your own document:
Example 1 (requesting to work from home when youve already done t)
This scenario demonstrates how to ask for the right to work from home permanently after temporarily doing so. You should make sure to cite your prior success working from home in this situation to support your request:
Dear Jordan,
I’ve done some work from home in the past, and I’ve come to appreciate the advantages it offers to my productivity, energy, and general health. As a result of not having to worry about fitting in a commute, I am more motivated and focused to complete tasks, and I can start working earlier. Additionally, I’ve observed that working from home fosters timely and effective communication among the team and me so that tasks can be completed on schedule.
I wanted to formally ask you about letting me turn my current job into a permanent work-from-home position because of this. I’m committed to staying in my position as a market expert with this fantastic company, and I believe that by switching up my work setting, I can maximize my contributions.
I’m interested in talking with you more about the possibilities.
Best,
Casey
Example 2 (requesting to work from home permanently)
Here’s an illustration of how to request to work from home full-time if you’ve never done it before. It’s crucial to emphasize your interpersonal abilities and professional examples that demonstrate your capacity for independent work:
Hello Alex,
I’ve started to notice over the past few months that my commute has a significant impact on my energy levels at work. I’ve also observed that, as a result of morning traffic and my attempts to arrive home before the evening rush, I frequently lose crucial work time.
Because of this, I believe it’s time to change my work habits, and I’d like to try working from home regularly. I think I’m capable of working from home because I have a ton of self-control and an excellent sense of time management. Additionally, I frequently communicate with clients via video chat software and with coworkers in other departments via our internal messaging systems.
I would be interested in hearing your opinions on this, and I would be happy to complete a trial period so you could assess the viability of remote work. My top priority is to keep supporting the business, and I feel working remotely will allow me to do that the most effectively.
I hope to speak with you soon.
Thank you,
Sarah
Example 3 (requesting to work from home temporarily)
If you want to ask to work from home for a short while, look at this example. When requesting a temporary work from home schedule in this manner, you must emphasize the following:
Dear Elliot,
I just received the results of my x-ray, and they show that I have a tibia fracture. I can’t put weight on it for a while, and surgery will probably be necessary soon. I must therefore request to work from home for at least the upcoming months until I reach a stage of recovery where I can walk and drive without difficulty.
I know how important our weekly client meetings are, and I’m determined to keep up my presentation duties over video chat.
Thank you in advance for accommodating my injury.
Sincerely,
Bailey
Example 4 (requesting to work from home for certain times of the week or month)
When you want to telecommute for part of the workweek or month, this example shows you how to write a work from home request email. Make sure to give a few examples of how working in the office part-time can improve your work quality when writing this kind of work-from-home request:
Hi Julia,
I wanted to formally inquire with you about the possibility of working from home starting today on Mondays and Wednesdays. When I don’t have to fight through rush-hour traffic in the morning and can concentrate in a peaceful setting, I feel more energized. When I get back to work, I also feel more enthusiastic and my ideas are more original.
However, I want to make sure that this is manageable for you and the team. I am open to other options, such as working from home one or more days every other week.
Can we meet on Monday morning to discuss this further?
Thank you,
Eli
Example 5 (requesting to work from home for specific days)
Here is an example of how to request to work from home on a particular day due to a sickness or other personal issues. It’s crucial to specify the precise day you plan to work remotely as well as a broad justification:
Hello Michael,
I wanted to request to work from home today and possibly tomorrow because it appears that I have a bad cold and don’t feel well. Additionally, I want to prevent spreading it to the other employees at the office. I’ll return all messages and calls, and I can join our department meeting via video chat.
Thank you for understanding,
Kennedy
5 things you need to know to convince your boss to work remotely [Full Guide] – Running Remote
FAQ
How do you write a letter to request to work from home?
Hello I’m thrilled with how the position is developing, and I’m having fun at work. However, I think that without my lengthy commute, I would be more productive for you.
How do you request for work from home due to personal reasons?
Dear Sir/Madam, Due to [personal reasons]/[illness]/[family issues]/[inability to come to the office] I would like to request the ability to work from home for one day, [date]. I promise that even though I’m working from home, I can continue to be productive on the [current task].
What do you say when asking to work from home?
Dear [name of supervisor], As you are aware, [reason for desire to work from home] I believe that working from home would allow me to [list the many advantages of working from home] Is it possible for me to start working from home [frequency of remote work request] while continuing to hold sporadic meetings in the office?
How do you send an email asking for work from home?
Dear Sir/Madam, I am writing to ask that you please give me the opportunity to work from home for the next 30 days due to the current situation of daily increases in COVID positive cases. In the event of an emergency, I can go to the office, and I think I can handle all of my work-related tasks from home.
