ajcjobs > BlogBreak > Archives > 2007 > February > 19 > Entry
There’s no place like home?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
For many people, working at home is a dream — often, an unattainable one. Either because our companies won’t let us or because our jobs couldn’t be done from a remote location, we are stuck in the office setup and can only daydream about the glorious benefits of telecommuting.
What are those benefits, exactly? I have thought about what I would cherish most about a work-at-home arrangement, and here are my top five “pluses”:
1) Privacy. I share a cubicle at work, and there are other people everywhere I go — the restroom, hallways, lunchroom. Private telephone conversations are unheard-of. I like interacting with other people, but not constantly. The chance to be alone sometimes would be a wonderful feature of telecommuting.
2) No commute. This is a close second — a very close second. I don’t like driving, to begin with, and it’s even less fun when I’m doing so amid seemingly millions of others. Saving gas money — and, especially, time! — would go far to decrease stress.
3) Comfort. Forget the panty hose and high heels! Working from home would mean standard “business attire” of jeans, a T-shirt and a pair of cozy fluffy socks. (Makeup would be likewise optional.)
4) Climate control. Too hot in my “office”? Turn up the a/c! Too cold? Turn up the heat or get a blanket. Too quiet? Turn up the radio or CDs. (And no more headphones!)
5) Quality time with the pet. My cockatiel probably forgets what I look like sometimes. She does enjoy perching on my shoulder while I work at a computer, though. The only potential for her to distract me would be her fascination with biting my earrings from time to time. (If I have them on, that is. See also, No. 3!)
Obviously, there would be downsides to working at home, too — for example, isolation from friends/co-workers — but it’s much easier (and it’s human nature) to identify ways in which the grass would be greener.
Do you work at home? If so, what do you like best about it and what are the downsides? Are the downsides, as the rest of us suspect, far fewer in number than the upsides?
If you don’t work at home but wish you did, what would you like the best about it? Would you find yourself tempted to turn on the daytime soaps, or would it be more conducive to working than your current setup?
Comments
Commenting is now closed for this entry.
By SA
February 19, 2007 9:44 AM | Link to this
I telecommute once every couple of weeks. My reasons to love list is similar to yours—I can get a lot more done in one day of telecommuting than I can sometimes accomplish in a week of being onsite at my job. The dress code and comfort factor are big plusses as well. That said, I think it would be hard to do it daily—-you lose the face to face time and the opportunity to keep up with the dynamics of the office. It can be isolating.
By Madison
February 19, 2007 10:08 AM | Link to this
Work is noy joyful for me because I have to go in to the office every day. I live in Dahlonega and have begged and pleaded to telecommute but my boss never listens. I would love nothing more than to work from home in my pj’s and to not have to deal with traffic every day!
By Georgia
February 19, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this
Unfortunately, being in theElectronic repair/shipping/receiving field, I cannot work from home. I have to be “hands-on” at the facility where I work.
My commute is not too bad, 30 minutes one way. I’m not sure I am disclipined enough to work from home. I’d probably be watching tv or something…….. One of the benefits of working from home for me though, is I would be there when my kids get home from school……and I could probably spend more time with them in the mornings too..
But it’s really ok, I have a fabulous job that I absolutely LOVE…
By Yolanda
February 19, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this
If I had the opportunity to telecommute the biggest bonus would be not to have to deal with the traffic every day. I spend about an hour each way in traffic and it can be stressful. The second bonus would be the gas money saved and less wear and tear on the car, I have a 70 mile round trip. I understand the value of “face time”, therefore I would be willing to go into the office two to three days per week and telecommute the other days. I know it would increase my productivity. Traffic alone is draining. I already feel tired before I reach the office.
By Dookie-Boy
February 19, 2007 10:38 AM | Link to this
Telecommuting is usually attractive to individuals who are dullards, lazy and overweight. You see the telecommuter likes to stay indoors so they may drag their lazy behind outa bed when they please, sluff around in their jammys and eat cakes, pies, and donuts all day without feeling guilty.
Just a bunch of FAT PIG Women!!
POOT in ya faces.
By Quentin
February 19, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this
I usually work 3 days in the office and 2 days at home. I tip-toed into virtual office around 1999 and have loved it ever since. I can’t equate how much productivity I gain not having to commute and I’m not already overly frustrated due to a grueling a.m. drive. Telecommuting can be a perfect fit for a person if they’re disciplined and their job role supports remote work. I live alone without children or pets so my distractions at home are minimal. My girlfriend and some friends think working from equal’s easy street, but in reality my company gets more productivity when I’m home versus the office.
By AR
February 19, 2007 12:06 PM | Link to this
I’ve worked at home for a very long time and enjoy it tremendously. Where once I had a 48 mile commute, one way, now it is about 48 feet. No commuting, no dressing up unless I have a meeting, quiet workspace, no interruptions and so on. I actually set up my entire company to work this way and it’s fantastic. No, not every type of business can do it, but for those who can I would suggest companies find a way to make it happen. It works out for the best for everyone involved.
By pamela
February 20, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this
I like to get up and out of the house in the mornings, as I realize it is indeed a blessing to be able to do so. I was taught and taught my son “If you are able to rise up and see the sun, then it’s time to do something”. There are people that you may see and that need your help or maybe your kind words to make their day. Interaction with others is a healthy part of being human. Of course, we work for our livelihood. But, when we embrace life fully there is so much more to going to work for money. I see and talk to customers all day and you would not believe how many people whose existence is bleak. When you address them as if you are truly glad to see them and really hope they have a good day they appreciates your kind thoughts.
By mb
February 28, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this
Re. #3 (Comfort) - Jeans and a t-shirt? Girl, you’re way over-dressed for telecommuting.
By Angel
February 28, 2007 12:49 PM | Link to this
I’ve been telecommuting full time for two and a half years. It took me turning in my resgination to get my boss to agree. I really don’t think the issue was me so much as it was having to acknowledge that people can work from home. It’s not for everyone. I work with lots of people who do it occassionally and you can never get a hold of them when they are “working from home.” It was very rare when I was in the office that I actually worked with people face-to-face, save the endless meetings that I only went to because I happen to be in the office. I am way more productive working from home. My 46 mile commute used to leave me drained and angry on some days and not in the mood to work or deal with people. Now I’m regularly online at least an hour before I used to be and tend to stay online longer as well. While the downside is that your work never stays at work, the upside is that I gained 12-15 hours a week at home where I can be more relaxed & more productive.
My work days tend to be longer in duration but it’s also because I believe I still have to put the time in to get the job done and if I take an hour to go run errands, that’s an extra hour on the end of my day. The upside is that my bathroom and coffee breaks are all of about a minute or two compared with 10-15 in the office when I would lollygag and talk to whoever I happen to pass in the hallway.
Some people say that they would be too unfocused and I do think for the first month or so I was a little obsessive about feeling like I had to keep the house clean (I was home an extra 12 hours a week- surely I had time to). But I settled into a routine. While I on occasion may do a load or two of laundry during the week, I don’t really fret about the house.
Upsides, other than those mentioned in the original post of saving lots of money in gas and car maintenance, and extra time were: saved money on eating out, dry cleaning, business attire, before/after school care for my son who now rides the bus to and from school. Less STRESS!!! I actually enjoy being at home with my family. I used to walk in and feel like a zombie and regret the fact that we bought a house outside of town. We got dogs! We couldn’t have dogs before when my husband and I both commuted. Now we have dogs who keep me company (much better than the nosy cubicle mate!)
Sometimes I do get a little down about being at home and go stir-crazy but we have friends and our son is very active so I stay busy in the evenings. This tends to be worse during the winters when I don’t feel real inclined to go outside- I can literally go a couple of days without leaving the house except to get the paper and the mail. I go into the office occassionally (the last couple of months it’s been once a week and in a way, I do enjoy it). Being away from your co-workers can be hard (you miss out on the company gossip) but it also makes me much less judgemental (i.e. you miss out on the company gossip!)
The other plus for me is that I LOVE being outdoors. I have a wireless internet connection and when the weather is nice, I’m usually out on the back deck enjoying the sunshine. Sure as heck beats the flourescent lights of cubicle-land and the dogs love it too.
I do wish more companies (especially office-based jobs where the majority of the time is spent in front of a computer) would embrace telecommuting- I think it’s going to be the only way to retain employees in the long run. It doesn’t mean everyone or every job is cut out for working from home but a work-life balance is necessary for everyone and this is an easy way for companies to help employees out and quite honestly help themselves as well (I feel much more loyalty to my company now than I did when I was working in the office).