Flexibility: Remote Work
- Success Story
(SAMPLE – to be replaced by Our Firm)
Here are two examples of how remote work has been used successfully at
other organizations:
Sanford Walker,
Technical Writer, Software
Sanford was working in a Company office when his wife was
transferred to another state. The family had a choice: move or not move.
It happened that Sanford was an individual contributor who worked very
independently. His wife’s job had to be done on site. So Sanford
approached his manager, Jean Davis, and told her that he was planning to
move and wanted to request a remote work arrangement. Jean was surprised
at first, but then realized that the arrangement made a lot of sense.
Sanford could work anywhere. He didn’t need to have an office
at the firm. It especially made sense given the space crunch at this
location. The concerns she had about his ongoing relationships with
colleagues and clients were clearly addressed in the proposal Sanford
submitted. There were also assurances about turnaround time and
productivity that she hadn’t expected. Jean approved his request..
Sanford took a few weeks off to move and get his new office set up. The
firm provided him with the tools he needed to do his work: a laptop
computer, combination printer-fax-scanner, two phone lines, a DSL line
and an ergonomic chair. Sanford bought the other furniture he needed.
Sanford says it’s been easy for him to keep in touch with other
workers using today's advanced technology. The firm is benefiting from
his enhanced productivity and because it no longer has to provide office
space or clerical support for Sanford.
There are also substantial benefits for Sanford. His remote work
arrangement allows him to play a larger role in his family without
compromising success in the firm. It also eliminates the stress he had
commuting on a daily basis. He wonders why there aren’t more remote
work arrangements..
Jayne Golembe, Director,
Marketing
Sometimes things happen serendipitously. The firm conducted a
national search for a Director of Marketing who would move to Milwaukee
and head up the Marketing Department. The search failed.
But someone who was working in the department said she knew a top
Marketing Director in Chicago, Jayne Golembe, who might be interested in
applying if she didn’t have to move.
The employee gave the hiring team Jayne’s resume and the rest, as they
say, is history.
Jayne continues to live in Chicago but spends four or five days a month
in Milwaukee. She already had a complete office set up in her Chicago
home, including a cable modem and two phone lines, so the costs to the
firm are minimal. Jayne finds that by coming to the office every month
she can work one-on-one with her direct reports and with her own
manager. They know that when she’s not in Milwaukee she’s easily
reachable by phone or pager. Jayne knows how important it is to
communicate regularly with the people in her department.
Jayne also knows the value of empowering her team members. She coaches
them regularly on how to make decisions for themselves and they have all
grown from this experience.
Jayne’s manager, Earl Silver, was skeptical about hiring Jayne at
first because of the distance involved, but he’s very pleased with the
arrangement now. “I
realize that remote work can be both a recruitment and a retention tool.
I think it’s something we’re going to see more of in the future.”
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