Working from home/4 days out of 5 etc - when to raise with client

[DirtyDog]

But, in situation now where theres a gig thats come up that is a bit far from home. My personal situation dictates that Im not going to be able to stay away too often (another story etc). Client has got another office very close to my home.

You need to address it as soon as possible - explain that you won't be able to be on that site full time, as you need to be at home, but could work from the other site nearby or from home. If you take it and then hope to be able to work it into the conversation that you can't fulfil the role, then you are asking for trouble.

Tempted to ask before taking the gig whether there is any chance of WFH, other office for day or two a week, flexible hours etc. Might put them off I guess but if they do turn out to be right awkward gits then its going to be showstopper anyway.....

Anyone previous experience?

Negotiation is the key here. If I'm working away, I tell the client that they won't see me early on a Monday morning or on a Friday afternoon because I'll be travelling. I had one client in the middle of the contract insist that I was there by 9am on Monday and was contactable until 5pm on Friday (not so easy when you are on a plane) because the client liked the idea that people were around (not that I was in a client-facing role). I explained that I couldn't do that, but if they were insisting on a 9-5 then I would do that Tuesday to Thursday and not work Mondays or Fridays.

Not sure what you do, or what the client does, so is it feasible to be working from home or from the other office? Some clients just won't accept it, and there is something to be said from having regular meetings face-to-face. You may find that early in the project you have to do a few weeks on the actual site before working remotely from the project. Make sure you go to the other office at least a couple of days a month, so that they don't forget who you are. Make sure you have a regular conference call with the team to check you aren't missing out on anything. Make sure that you can guarantee a decent internet speed from home if you are going to be working there - you don't want to have to keep saying "my connection keeps dropping" if the problem is you rather than them.

My personal situation dictates that Im not going to be able to stay away too often (another story etc).

May I suggest you start a new thread in the professional sub-forums to discuss this particular point in more detail?

[MaryPoppins]

May I suggest you start a new thread in the professional sub-forums to discuss this particular point in more detail?

I think he's too scared to go back there.

[Churchill]

Depends. If your skill set is valuable enough to the client, you can um, hump them I guess.

MyCo is not "List X" so can't WFH.

Finish at lunchtime on a Friday though :-)

[d000hg]

I think that's where you're [we're?] different to psychocandy. I get the impression he doesn't control much within his contracts.

To be fair, it was genuinely a "take it or leave it" situation because I could not get to them every day without buying a car, which I was/am not prepared to do. They contacted me and asked if I was available, I said "yes, but...".

[northernladuk]

I'd be tempted not to mention it until after interview and actually being offered.

It's a fine line isn't it. Thing is, realistically, not many roles allow working from home as a defacto standard. Some do, but not many. By not mentioning it until after the interview it is likely he will be spend a lot of time in interviews and then getting binned off after. If a client doesn't mention it in interview you can take a stab at the fact he won't accept it at all so just wasting everyone's time. He maybe flexible for a few days but a WFH gig is a whole different ball game.

You can get away with a bit of pressure after interviews and you get an offer, you have position power but asking for a completely different role (effectively) is too much.

[eek]

MyCo is not "List X" so can't WFH.

Finish at lunchtime on a Friday though :-)

List X is site based not company based. Even if your company was approved chances are your house wouldn't be..

[MaryPoppins]

To be fair, it was genuinely a "take it or leave it" situation because I could not get to them every day without buying a car, which I was/am not prepared to do. They contacted me and asked if I was available, I said "yes, but...".

But you didn't hesitate in presenting the situation to them on a plate, and they value your skills enough to make it viable.

[QUOTE=northernladuk;1819735]
You can get away with a bit of pressure after interviews and you get an offer, you have position power but asking for a completely different role (effectively) is too much.[/QUOTE]

My feelings exactly.

[SueEllen]

I've never actually ask to WFH as a preference.

The problem is if you work from home and there are people about i.e. small children and all the couriers know you are in, you won't get any work done.

You are better of in your situation to work from the office near home so you can back home quickly. That means if you need to disappear for a couple of hours in the day then you can. Plus you can condition those around you to expect you back at a particular time and they know they have your full attention.

Oh and if I get a client when I'm working away who insists I stay to 5pm on a Friday then it's Strangely that hasn't happened.....

[MaryPoppins]

[QUOTE=SueEllen;1819759]
The problem is if you work from home and there are people about i.e. small children and all the couriers know you are in, you won't get any work done.

[QUOTE]

If I were hiring, I'd assume they really were going to be WFH and not in fact be looking after the kids.

[SueEllen]

If I were hiring, I'd assume they really were going to be WFH and not in fact be looking after the kids.

To be fair most people are honest and will admit if they have kids etc at home who will distract them.

I've also noticed that women with kids around are better at ensuring you can't hear them on the phone.