I was wasting hours commuting in LA traffic. Here's how I convinced my manager to let me work from home.

"But because I was in a director-level role, I felt a bit more obligated to show face. For the first few months, I made the 30-mile, 60- to 90-minute commute to our Los Angeles office a couple of days a week. Over time, the commute began to take a toll on me. I was wasting hours a day sitting in LA traffic."

"I started the conversation with my manager by being transparent about my commute and the challenges it was creating for me. I would often arrive home feeling mentally drained, frustrated, or short-tempered after commuting, which affected my energy and overall well-being in the evenings. Additionally, the wear and tear on my car, along with the gas costs, were becoming outrageously expensive."

"I also shared that I believed I'd be a better worker without the strain of the commute, because I could spend more time actually working rather than sitting in traffic. Most of the company's clients were based on the East Coast - rather than LA - so most of my work could be done remotely from my computer and through Zoom calls."

Leslie Snipes began a director of marketing job in January 2024 with an expectation to work from the office at least once a week. The 30-mile, 60- to 90-minute commute to the Los Angeles office consumed hours, caused mental fatigue, and increased car wear and gas costs. In April 2024, she asked her manager to work mostly from home, coming in only as needed and for travel; the request was approved within a day. She argued that remote work would improve her productivity because most clients are on the East Coast and work can be done by computer and Zoom. Remote work improved her wellbeing, though she misses some office interactions.

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