Working remotely can certainly save time and money, especially if it means you don’t have a long commute to the office. However, if you’re one of the many professionals who now work remotely, you may find yourself missing the comforts and conveniences of a traditional office
Fortunately, it’s not uncommon for companies to pay for incidental costs associated with working remotely. This arrangement is often referred to as an office allowance.
An office allowance can be used for many things — it all depends on the amount your employer provides and what you need to do your best work.
For example, an employer might give employees funds to purchase tools like a second monitor or an ergonomic desk chair, because they know that the right office equipment makes a huge difference in productivity.
Some employers are even more generous — they’ll cover the cost of a team member’s virtual office space.
Before we dive in, let’s recap some virtual office basics.
A virtual office provides affordable and flexible access to physical office space and office-related services. When someone becomes a member with a virtual office provider, like Intelligent Office, they have access to solutions and services such as:
In essence, virtual offices make it easy to work from anywhere, without sacrificing the comforts of a traditional office space. That’s why they’re such a great solution for workers who have been displaced from their usual workspace.
If a virtual office sounds like the right fit for your needs, here are some tips and insights you can use to make the case for a virtual office allowance with your employer:
First things first, learn about the virtual office options that are available where you live.
You can use Intelligent Office’s location directory to find an option near you. An online search for “virtual offices near me” is another great way to see what’s available. If you aren’t sure what to look for in a virtual office, these resources will help you find the perfect fit:
Once you have a shortlist of potential offices, submit requests for quotes and additional information. The provider will then get back to you with up-to-date pricing information, which you can present to your employer.
Now that you have a list of virtual offices and their pricing information, it’s time to make a plan to approach your boss.
The key is to make a compelling business case for why your employer should invest in your virtual office membership. Here are some talking points you can use:
Approaching your employer to ask for a virtual office allowance can be intimidating, but the Intelligent Office team is here to help.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team using this form. We’ll pair you with a local business services expert who can answer any and all concerns you may have.
Soon enough, you’ll feel confident enough to ask for the space you need to get your work done.