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If you’re like most people, you just can’t find enough hours in the day to accomplish everything on your to-do list. While you can’t add extra hours to your week, you can make the most of the time you have with a flexible scheduling arrangement.
Job sharing, flextime, telecommuting and part-time work are becoming more common as people strive to balance their careers and personal lives. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the percentage of workers with flexible schedules has nearly doubled in the last ten years.
That could be because flexible work schedules make modern life more manageable and enable people to enjoy their jobs more. In fact, one-third of workers polled in a recent OfficeTeam survey said flexibility in scheduling would increase their job satisfaction.
If you’re thinking of asking your manager for more flexibility, the following suggestions could increase your chances of having that request approved.
Do your research. You know that a flexible schedule will be good for you, but you must figure out how it will benefit your department or company. If there are other people at your company who have flexible schedules, ask them how they make such arrangements work. Research a variety of print and online publications to see what kind of arrangements are common in your industry. Review the employee handbook for any guidelines about flexible scheduling options. You don’t want to propose telecommuting, for example, if it’s outside the bounds of stated company policy. Determine which option – compressed workweek, modified start time, telecommuting – fits best not only with your own needs, but also with those of the company.
Write it out. Describe your preferred arrangement, and whether you’re proposing a temporary schedule modification (until your child begins preschool, for example) or a permanent change. In either case, discuss in detail how you’ll manage your workload and job responsibilities on an alternative schedule. Rather than focusing on your personal life, adopt your manager’s point of view and emphasize the business aspect. Show what the company will gain from the new arrangement, and describe how you’ll handle any difficulties that might arise. Anticipate and address possible objections (i.e., “we’ve never done this before,” “everyone will want to do this,” “your position doesn’t lend itself to flextime”).
Rehearse. Ask a trusted friend to play the part of your manager and role-play the discussion a few times to build your confidence and polish your delivery. This will also help you to identify and improve weak spots in your proposal.
Choose the right time. Obviously, you don’t want to approach your manager when she’s on deadline, handling a crisis or about to dash out the door. Request a meeting time then keep it brief. Be prepared for a conditional response – your manager may need to get clearance from her supervisor before she can give you an answer.
While there’s no guarantee that your request for flexible scheduling will be approved, by doing your homework, taking a professional approach and highlighting the benefits for the business, you just might turn the odds in your favor.