Telecommuting and a New Baby: Make the Right Arrangements

It sounds like the perfect solution: continue a full-time schedule, but work a few days a week from home, with baby at your side.

Before you present your proposal to work from home, recognize that the expected norm of all telecommuters is to have caregiving arrangements in place. This can be either inside or outside the home.

To suggest that you can be the primary caregiver of your baby while fully concentrating on your work is unrealistic—and unfair to your employer.

But with the right arrangements, you can make telecommuting work for both you and your manager.

“How do I know you’re working if I can’t see you?”

Obviously, your manager knows you just had a baby who is your likely motive for wanting to work from home. (Advise your pregnant friends to make the request during their first trimester.)

So this question is likely to surface in your manager’s mind. And because it’s usually an unspoken question, address your manager’s concern in your proposal.

Mention the caregiving arrangements you’ve made as the last item under section “A. Schedule” of your Telecommuting Proposal Package template.

What to Put in Your Proposal to Quell the Question in Your Manager’s Mind

The way you say it is important in conveying this issue as part of your “business case.” It can impact your manager’s decision, so choose your words and strategy carefully.

Unless you believe its inclusion will backfire in your case, include this piece of information in a brief, straightforward manner. No details; one line is adequate.

Don’t say: “Each work day, I’ll drop off my baby at the babysitter’s, who is located 10 minutes from my house.”

Do say: “I’ve lined up a full-time caregiver for my child, located 10 minutes from my home office.”

Or if, for example, your husband does shift-work or your mother-in-law lives with you and that person will care for your baby during regular working hours:

Don’t say: “My husband [mother-in-law] will watch the baby while I work.”

Do say: “I’ve arranged for full-time in-home care for my child so that I can work without interruption.”

The unspoken truth is, with in-home or nearby care, you may enjoy a break or lunchtime with your baby. You may be able to nurse more often or for a longer duration than if they were not working from home part of the workweek.

Along with cutting the time, costs and stress of commuting to the office, these are welcome benefits of the work-from-home arrangement you’re seeking.

Work from Home with a New Baby?

Working your regular job from home with a new baby nearby is not an ideal set-up, but with the proper arrangements, it can be manageable, productive and rewarding.

And it can be your reality when you download the Telecommuting Proposal Package. Julie Sullivan of Kansas tells why:

I am ecstatic to be able to tell you that just nine days after purchasing your proposal template, I have been approved to work from home for FOUR days a week with just one in the office, following my maternity leave for our first baby! [Note: This Telecommuting Proposal Package user arranged in-home care.]

I was wary of requesting four days after reading that one to two was the most reasonable and easily accepted request. I knew that I wouldn’t be happy with just that so went for four and got it with barely a question asked. The first comment my boss made when I met with him to discuss my proposal was how impressed he was with the proposal and its thoroughness.

After doing much research and not finding the sources I needed to make a telecommuting request, I can’t tell you how thankful I am that I found your website! Julie Sullivan, Systems Analyst (major financial services company), Overland Park, KS

Would you like a similar success story after maternity leave?