Don’t Get Personal When Proposing Flexible Work

Your beautiful baby has melted your heart and now there are not enough hours in the day to spend with your little one. You’re ready to propose a flexible work arrangement so you can have more time with your little one.

Even though you have a very precious and personal reason—your baby—to propose a flexible work arrangement, it’s not the reason your manager wants to hear.

It sounds harsh, but it’s generally true. When making your proposal, you must appeal to the interests of your manager and the bottom-line concerns of your employer, even though your interests are closer to heart and home.

“I Miss My Baby!”

A development officer for a non-profit organization in San Francisco told me that she was about to make her pitch for a part-time schedule by sweeping into her manager’s office with an emotional plea of, “I miss my baby!”

Fortunately, she said, she first came across my advice about the dangers of “winging it” without a proposal, and then developed a more sensible approach.

Likewise, plan to present the business case that would allow you to reduce your hours, telecommute, job share or otherwise restructure your job. Leave the “why” behind your request out of your proposal.

(In turn, your manager should make the decision to accept or reject your proposal based on the business merits, not based on the reasons why you want it.)

This advice parallels that of the request for a raise; personal need is not the issue. “We just bought a bigger car.” “I’m a single mom receiving no child support.” “We’re remodeling our kitchen.”

It just doesn’t fly.

Your justification for a raise must be based on the merits of your performance and contributions to your employer. Leave car payments and the cost of hardwood cabinets out of the discussion!

Bottom-Line Benefits for Your Employer

It’s the same when asking for a flexible work arrangement. What’s in it for your manager? Your employer? How will they benefit?

That’s the emphasis your proposal must take. The Work Options Proposal Package provides a solid framework to supply your answers, including a list of bottom-line benefits.

Although your motives for a flexible work arrangement are personal—even emotional—resolve to present your case in an objective, business-like manner to boost the likelihood of getting your request approved.