Dear Bob ... Two years ago, I switched from a full-time to a part-time contract with the company I'm still currently working for. This was to pursue a personal project that, unfortunately, didn't turn quite right. Right now, I find myself part-time and working from home due to the distance and long commute time, which seems an ideal thing, but isn't so for me. I miss the work area itself, and I'd really like to Dear Bob …Two years ago, I switched from a full-time to a part-time contract with the company I’m still currently working for. This was to pursue a personal project that, unfortunately, didn’t turn quite right. Right now, I find myself part-time and working from home due to the distance and long commute time, which seems an ideal thing, but isn’t so for me. I miss the work area itself, and I’d really like to resume my job in a full-time position in the offices themselves. I’m also ready to move back to where the company is located. Working from home isn’t justified anymore, since nothing keeps me in the town where I’m now, and I actually consider it a hinder rather than a help.What would be a good way for me to talk to my boss about that? In the past two years, some of the tasks I was doing have been filled by other people, and I’m not sure how to persuade my boss that I could do much more again all of a sudden. On the other hand, these people had always been trainees, and temporary, never long-term employees, which means such positions aren’t filled at the moment. What would be the best line of conduct to adopt? I have several projects ideas that could be useful to the company. Shall I start by sending these to my boss, as they would help the company and I know I’m up to them as well? Ask for a moment when I could come and speak with him about it, also telling him of the projects themselves when we’re face-to-face? I’m not sure if being too subtle would be a good thing. In the past, it has already led to projects I suggested being given to other people because the management team thought I wouldn’t have the time, when in fact I did and would have really wanted to / be able to concretize my ideas. However, I also don’t want to come up as aggressive, defeated and/or begging; my position isn’t very ideal at the moment, having been away for so long from the offices themselves and their “policies”, and I’m very afraid that they wouldn’t trust me with the new projects.I’d be really glad if you could help me with this. This is the first and only long-term job I’ve ever had, and I’m still pretty shy about negotiating as well as knowing the right things to say. I don’t want to give a bad impression just out if ignorance of what’s convenient and what isn’t.– Wanting more Dear Wanting …Assuming you’ve maintained a good relationship with the company in general and your boss in particular, and that you had been direct regarding the reason you wanted to shift to part time status in the first place, I’d suggest being straightforward about this. Ask your boss for a meeting, explain that the venture you had wanted to pursue didn’t work out, and ask to return to full-time status as soon as the company’s staffing situation creates an opening that allows it.I’m not sure as to whether suggesting project opportunities is a good idea or not. That depends heavily on how the company works. In most, the challenge isn’t coming up with project opportunities – it’s figuring out which five to pursue out of the several dozen good ideas people have put forward. If that isn’t the case here – if it’s a highly entrepreneurial environment where employees are encouraged to work on self-generated projects so long as they end up benefiting the business … then I have a different piece of advice: Don’t tell anyone else about the company, because everyone you tell will want to work there! There are companies that have, for one reason or another, turned off the good-idea spigot. If that’s the case, I’d suggest staying part-time and using your energy to find a better company to work for. “For one reason or another,” is almost always “for one reason,” which is that the people running the company are inept.Anyway, talk to your boss. There’s no reason to be shy about wanting to return to full-time status. Just be businesslike about it and the conversation will go fine.– Bob Technology Industry