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Stress that you want to find a was made, you need to be reasonable, too.
So, think of some concessions that are
positive outcome for everyone relatively easy for you to make but would
be important to them. You might commit
and try to offer solutions. to being in for certain days. Stress that
you want to find a positive outcome for
everyone and try to offer solutions. Say,
“To make this work, what do you need me
Take a step back from its worst effects. In this case, you to do?”
Ask yourself how bad it really is. Were you want to make a kind of general complaint,
sold a completely different job, or is it just a rather than blame the boss. Conversely, if If they say no
bit different? Think, too, about the role the problem is localised around your boss, Here you have a number of choices, and
itself. Has it changed, or have external you should try to understand why he or these depend on whether the
circumstances changed? Ask yourself if she is behaving in this way, in order to find disagreement is with your immediate
you’re being unreasonable and if this is the most constructive way forward. manager or is more of a company-wide
instead just a minor annoyance. Next, think issue. In the former case, if you get on well
about the changes that are required to make Build your case with those above your boss or others in the
it right. Is it just a day more at home? Two “But I don’t like it, and it’s not fair!” is not a hierarchy, you might approach them
days? More? Can it be fixed easily? persuasive argument, even if you’re right. informally. A more formal route would be
So, make a list of real instances where you to speak to HR. You could also get an
Ensure you communicate about work are having problems. If, for example, you employment lawyer to look over your
expectations chose remote work because it fitted contract. Your rights here will vary widely
Some managers still think that people they around childcare or other family by jurisdiction, and, as with all disputes of
can’t see aren’t working. If this is the case, commitments, these can be presented as this nature, it is worth bearing in mind
ensure that expectations are clearly agreed extremely difficult to deal with. Worth that the further you escalate it, the more
by both sides in advance so that you can pointing out, too, is that your commute is likely you are to permanently damage your
demonstrate you are delivering. This can lost time and makes you less efficient. relationship with your boss or company.
also be a symptom of micromanagement. Stress the positives. You are calmer, more
Here it may help if you give your boss what effective, and more productive if you are And if this fails?
he or she needs. Provide regular updates allowed to work partly or wholly from If you have a serious work issue that is
and communicate. Ensure you participate home. proving intractable, it may be worth
in chat, group calls, and video meetings asking yourself if you might be happier
— even those where your presence is Find independent evidence elsewhere. You may decide the legal route
optional. Yes, it’s a bit performative, but One of the key arguments in favour of is simply not worth it or that a company
good work doesn’t always speak as loudly remote work is that it makes employees that is inflexible is not for you. Here, you
as it should. more productive. Thanks to the pandemic, are in a strong position. In many
a great deal of research has been done on countries, there are more jobs than
Get some context this in the past few years. So look up some applicants. What is more, many
You need to determine where the change is studies such as one from global not-for- companies are now very supportive of
coming from. Is it an edict from the CEO, profit Catalyst, which shows that remote remote work and even when it’s entirely
who has decided to go office-based? Is it employees are 68% more likely to report remote. Moreover, these tend to be
directed at just you or at the people who high organisational commitment, or one forward-looking companies. So, start job
work for your boss? Sound out your from PwC, where 57% of business leaders hunting. And you can be completely
colleagues. You might discover that many said remote or hybrid work boosted honest in your interview when they ask
people are in the same boat, which is great productivity, at least in the short term. why you want to leave your current job. ■
— you have allies. One person approaching Focus on areas such as productivity,
the boss is easy to dismiss, half the team engagement, retention, trust, and
less so. Alternatively, you might find out happiness. Look at what your competitors Visit the Global Career Hub from AICPA
that it’s only you. Again, this could work in and global examples of excellence do. & CIMA for help with finding a job or
your favour. Why can Jenny do four days at Finally point out that it is the norm: recruiting.
home when you’re expected to be in the According to McKinsey & Co, 58% of
office for three days a week? Finally, your Americans are now offered remote or
co-workers might see no problem. This is flexible working. Rhymer Rigby is an FM magazine
the least desirable outcome for you. But it contributor and author of The
should at least provide you with a check Ask for a meeting Careerist: Over 100 Ways to Get
— are your complaints reasonable? This is an important issue and could Ahead at Work. To comment on this
materially impact your future at the article or to suggest an idea for
Understand your boss’s position company. So set up a proper meeting to another article, contact Oliver Rowe at
This is key. If everyone is being affected by discuss it. While you are asking your Oliver.Rowe@aicpa-cima.com.
this, your boss might be shielding you employer to stick to an agreement that

32 I FM MAGAZINE I October 2022