To ask work to make WFH permanent?

[Iambouddicca]

I started a new job in February. I am thanking my lucky stars that it is a secure industry. When I took the job I was told that WFH would not be an option. However because of covid my whole team has been WFH since mid March. It is an IT role and so it suits WFH. I prefer WFH and to be honest my whole team has proved themselves to be productive at home.

WIBU to ask for my WFH to be made permanent? DH says its too soon to request it ( I only passed probabion last month...) WWYD?

You can certainly ask,they can only say no

Talk to the team first. And you need to argue the case from the company's perspective - so it'll save money etc

You can ask.

I do wonder though, if an organisation truly want someone 100% WFH why not just hire someone just as qualified for less money who lives in a cheaper part of the world or country?

Oh and unless they’re totally unreasonable you shouldn’t be penalised for just asking the question if you’re performing well.

When are you due back to the office? If not for a while I wouldn’t ask yet - let things play out for longer and prove how efficient you can be at home for as long as possible. If they want you back in the next couple of weeks then start the conversation now.

I'd give it a bit longer. My office has said we won't be back before Christmas and I think they will be seriously reviewing how much they spend on premises etc and will possibly be looking at condensing offices. Meaning we will have to work from home a lot more than we currently do.

I would wait and see when they mention opening your office again and then ask. I don't see is being able to wfh full time but at least 3 times a week would be better than nothing for the people that like it.

Where I work was very much a no working from home environment pre lockdown too. We’ve all proved ourselves and have been really busy the whole time.

My manager is keen to keep us partially WFH for as long as possible, but we’ve been advised to be seen to be willing to make the effort to go to the office every now and again for catch ups and to show our faces. I think you need to show willing before trying to negotiate any permanent change to your working arrangements.

I’ve started going in 2 days a week which has helped me a lot but I personally couldn’t WFH full time, I’d go mad.

Talk to the team first. See who is on board. And you need to argue the case from the company's perspective - so it'll save money etc

Have they laid out plans for your return to the office at all yet? If they haven’t, ask about them and if they’re considering allowing more WFH for staff.

@AdultierAdult to be fair, I think this already happens... DH's work has a whole division in India (doing highly educated technical work).

I was doing one day a week WFH before lockdown, and am now completely WFH. I am thinking of asking to do 2/3 days each fortnight in the office, and the rest WFH (but I live 3 hrs away from work).

I think it’s a big jump to ask to permanently WFH. Bide your time and see what the return to the office looks like. Chances are it will be a phased return. I think (as a manager) that it is a lot more palatable (and effective) to have employees in the office at least a couple of days a week (on the basis they are full time).

We’ve not been told when they expect us back in yet. If I could agree WFH a few days a week that would be great

Before you ask, check the company's policy for requesting flexible working - it might be that your manager couldn't approve it at this point even if they wanted to. Where I work, it's something like, you have to have been working there for a least a year before your request can be considered, and if you've asked before and been rejected, you have to wait 6 months before you can ask again.

Ah good point @PowerslidePanda

I'd ask now before they've invested time and money into making the offices covid secure.

@Iambouddicca

We’ve not been told when they expect us back in yet. If I could agree WFH a few days a week that would be great

IT - YABU - you need to meet with the (majority) of the team in the office a couple of times a week, but with this comment

How do you know such details of the OP's job, that you are sure she needs to meet in person twice a week?! Presumably the OP knows best, and hasn't said this is necessary...

Why does IT necessitate twice weekly meetings with the whole team?

Because the majority of the IT SMEs are introvert and communication with them in initiation and planning phase of the projects are more efficient within a F2F comms
Disclaimer: L1 supports or sales people are not included, only SMEs