Developing Telecommuting Proposal

Developing a Proposal for a Telecommuting Agreement

  1. Determine what arrangement would best meet your needs:
    • Where do you propose to work (home, alternate site)?
    • What schedule would you like (days and hours on campus, days and hours at telecommuting site)?
    • Which of your duties do you propose to perform at the telecommuting site? Which do you propose to perform in the department?
    • If only a minor adjustment can be made to your work arrangements, what adjustment would be most valuable to you? (Examples: telecommute one day a week; be available to come in on short notice; suspend telecommuting during busiest times of the year.)
  2. Anticipate what problems this arrangement may cause for the organization. (Include the effect on your own assignment and how your role affects others, both within the unit and externally.)
  3. Try to work out potential solutions to these concerns:
    • How will you communicate with your supervisor, co-workers, clients?
    • How will materials be kept readily available to those who need access?
    • How will you be able to respond to emergencies or other unexpected events in your department?
    • How will you assure the security of university materials and equipment?
    • Can you provide a workplace that is as safe as your departmental work site, so as to minimize the likelihood of injury?
  4. Outline ways in which your proposed arrangement might benefit the organization.
    • Will service hours be extended?
    • Will you be more productive? In what ways, and how will this be measured?
    • Will your department be able to free up equipment and space?
  5. Come up with a plan that addresses your own concerns and, to the extent that you can, those you anticipate from your supervisor, co-workers, and clients.
  6. Request a meeting with your supervisor to explain what arrangements you would like and why. Discuss possibilities with your supervisor; actively listen and be prepared to revise your plan. (Flexibility goes both ways!)
  7. Suggest a trial period of X months.
  8. Develop a plan and timetable for monitoring the effectiveness of the arrangement.

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