Ask And You May Receive: The Power of The Ask
Posted on July 20, 2017 by Jacqueline Miller, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
"Is it possible to negotiate a teleworking schedule post-employment offer?" You won't know unless you ask. Here are a few tips for you:
In my coaching business, I encounter ambitious women who are seeking advice and counseling related to their challenges in the workplace.
I decided I’d share the content from a recent conversation in this article, as I am certain that it may benefit many others.
QUESTION: “Is it possible to negotiate a teleworking schedule post-employment offer?”
COACH JACQUELINE RESPONSE:
Although this is something that ideally would have been discussed pre-offer, never say never. Also known as The Power of The Ask. I headed an HR division for 15 years and revised offer letters/packages regularly. Generally, it comes down to a few key components:
Is the job malleable? Even in 2017, there are certain jobs that just don’t have the flexibility to be performed outside of the traditional work environment, without great expense being incurred by the company.
Would they be setting precedent by allowing this option for you, especially as a new hire?
How badly do they want/need you? If the job was/is a “hard to fill” and/or you impressed the hell out of them with your skills, experience, interview presence and they need a butt in a seat ASAP – they are likely to be open to negotiation. If they concede to your request, be prepared for them to possibly want to renegotiate other details of your employment package in exchange for their concession.
When are you set to start the job? The sooner you make the request the better. First and foremost make the following things clear to them: a) how excited you are to be hired, b) how much you REALLY want the job, c) that if the telecommute option exists it would be great, but that it is NOT a deal breaker, etc.
You don’t want them to have buyer’s remorse from day one but go for it. Ask! The worst thing they can do is say “NO.” You come on board, prove yourself to be an amazing staff addition and then pose the option again down the line with your new boss.
If the original request is denied, keep your eyes and ears open to existing telecommuting arrangements within the company. How do these jobs compare to yours? How many involve women?
Many companies continue to resist telecommuting as an option; however, once they open the door, they have to be extremely careful about the subjectivity of the decisions to allow/disallow additional ones. When/if there is clear evidence of there being an adverse impact on a segment of the population, i.e. women, employees of color, for example, they leave themselves open to all kinds of legal challenges. If possible, gather as much information as you can before making a new proposal down the road. Be prepared to challenge a second “No” with facts and a methodical, logical rebuttal.
In the end, the decision is the company’s to make and you would need to determine whether this is a company that you want to continue being affiliated with long-term.
Good luck and keep me posted!
Coach Jacqueline Miller
Seeking a life coach? Contact me to see which of my services would work best for you.
