The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: sizzlinkola on December 19, 2018, 08:47:40 PM
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I'm planning to put in my two week notice as I've reached a level of FU money, which I defined as being able to live comfortably with my SO in NYC for 2 years without a job. I'm currently in CA.
I'm pursuing a career change once I'm out in NYC. It'd be great to get cashflow if I can negotiate part-time remote work. For those that did this, how did you approach the conversation to the manager and what position were you at the company?
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The point of FU money is that it gives you the ability to just quit if you don't get what you want, so it shifts the balance of power somewhat. I would talk about some of your accomplishments, explain that you really do like working there and would like to continue to contribute to the company (even if not strictly true, come up a way you can think about it that makes it true -- otherwise you really should leave), but that your girlfriend is living in NYC and you're ready to stop the long distance thing so you'd like to propose working remotely for them. Just lay out why they should really want to keep you and exactly what you want. The worst they can say is no in which case you're no worse off than if you just quit. Even if they do say know it would surprise me if they still changed their mind once they realize you're really going to quit otherwise.
Don't go in there saying you're going to quit if they don't give you what you want, though. People don't like ultimatums. If they say no to your proposal then you quit, but make it clear it's not what you want. "I'm sorry to hear that. In that case I'm going to have to give you my resignation because this is really important to me."
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I work remotely, although I've not reached FU$. In my case, I was moving and I proposed it as a transition while I found other work and they found a replacement. It was agreed to be six months, but both sides found it worked so I've been working remotely for 4 years now.
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For those that did this, how did you approach the conversation to the manager and what position were you at the company?
I attempted to transition into a remote position with a company when we made a move to be closer to family. I basically said, "I'm leaving as of the end of this month (a few months out). I'd like to continue working with you guys, remotely, but I understand that may not be possible." My manager supported it, and ran it up the chain, who supported it, up to the relevant C level exec, who said, "No, we don't do that, we find it doesn't work out well." Which... whatever. Their loss.
So I do remote work for other people instead.
The biggest thing is having a separate, isolated space dedicated to work. I built a shed on a corner of our property that I work from, and it's the best workspace I've had, ever. No distractions, and I focus on the type of work (typically fairly low level, detailed stuff that requires long form focus) I'm good at out there. Part time. The people I've been working with recently seem to remain confused that I do high quality, full-time grade output, working part time and remote. I keep struggling to explain that it's not that I do that despite being remote, it's because I'm remote - because there are no distractions, and I don't get dragged into random meetings. I task switch on a "days or weeks" granularity - I'll work on some project for a week or two, straight, then switch to something else, so I'm not paying context switch overheads.
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I went straight to the C-suite (open door policy!) and told the big bosses that I was moving to the desert for medical reasons, but that I'd love to keep working for the company.
My role was intended as on-site only, but by they end of the day they came back to me with an offer to continue remotely. Turns out I love working from home!