Hello -
Is there a downside to asking to WFH? How do I do it?
Background:
I've been working at a PE firm in ~Tier 2-3 city and want to move closer to my network. Obviously, I moved there for the job.
For context, more of a relaxed vibe / culture than for example Big NYC MF for example, given our industry. Not say that it's a free ride. I like the firm, but hate where it is.
We've all been working remotely due to COVID, and doing well, and I was hoping to ask to WFH (after my YE bonus during performance review). If they say "yes," then it's a homerun. If they say no, then will I hurt my long-term chances to move up the ranks? The more I thought about it, the more I realize this isn't a "nothing to lose" scenario. Assume they say no, I brush it off like "okay whatever I was just trying to get the best deal," but in the back of their mind they realize I will just leave as soon as I can.
Am I overthinking this?
Thank you in advance.
Also wondering this. Would make the next 1.5 years a lot easier
only data point I have is pre covid. a friend who is VP at a top BB in their asset management division (more PE than AM or IB), moved back home to the tier 3 city he grew up in to raise a family, be closer to parents, etc.. his experience was it was a yes, but it was not without a ton of pushback.
I wouldn't ask unless you are willing to travel back to HQ as often as necessary. that was his pitch - hey, I'm glad to be in Manhattan Monday morning through Thursday night, I just want to be able to have my kids grow up in Bumblefuck near grandma and grandpa. he was also an incredibly high value employee with specialized experience (ex-Lehman in LevFin I think) who threatened leaving and so used that as leverage.
here's what I'd do, approach it like you don't know what you want to do. in my own words "hey fuckwit (or whatever you call your manager), with everybody doing WFH, I've heard a lot about companies changing their policies to allow employees some geographic flexibility, like monthly visits to HQ but mostly WFH where they grew up or in a desirable location like Costa Rica or something. do you think that'd ever work in our business? I know X (insert remote employee's name here) seems to have a good balance, but I wonder if that's scalable. what do you think?"
the benefits of that are you haven't lied, and you haven't overplayed your hand. you can't say "I'd never do something like that, BUT" because that's a lie. but on the other hand, I wouldn't go in guns blazing and say "listen up bro, Google and Twitter do this, I'm moving to XYZ and want to keep my same pay, cool?" you get your manager's honest opinion. maybe they haven't decided, maybe they are thinking of this themselves, or maybe they've already written it off as not feasible. worst case scenario, your boss says "yeah, we talked about that last week in the board meeting, it's a nonstarter at this point. why, are you thinking about it?" to which you can reply "nah, I just was curious, I never really saw it as a possibility in PE anyway."
So basically just ask, but do so in a very indirect/nonchalant way.
I think that's feasible and good feedback.
The next question would be, in practice and assuming they say yes, am I going to be "stuck" at the firm in whatever role I am currently in...
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