Is Working From Home Right For You?
By Matt Lowney
Some workers have the flexibility to work from home, however this option may not be right for everyone. Here are some pros and cons to weigh when considering the option of working from home.
Financial benefits.
PRO: Working from home can result in a significant savings for employees. You don’t have to buy gas, put wear and tear on the family car, or pay for dry cleaning your work clothes. You also save a lot of personal time not having to get ready every morning.
CON: Most telecommuters end up spending their own money on office related items like paper, pens, etc. In addition, your electric bills will most likely be higher, as will your other utilities.
Flexible hours.
PRO: Many employers who have a large telecommuting workforce take the approach that as long as you get your work done; it doesn’t matter when you do it. This mentality works very well for working parents who want to spend time with their families in the early afternoon and evenings and then do work later in the evening. In addition, when the workload might be a little light, you don’t have to hang around the office until 5 pm in order to leave.
CON: It takes a very self-disciplined person to sit down and do work a full 8 hours a day from home, especially considering all the distractions. Even the most dedicated of worker will put a load of dishes in the dishwasher or watch a little television, but be careful that relaxation time doesn’t creep too much into work time.
Commute.
PRO: Since the average commute time is about 30 minutes, you can save an hour every day not having to sit in your car. In addition, you save time not having to get “work ready” each day.
CON: Rolling out of bed and taking a 10 foot commute to your office down the hall may sound appealing to those who have to sit in rush hour every morning, but being confined to your house the entire day also has its drawbacks. You can’t just leave your work at the office. Your home becomes your office and vice versa.
Interaction with others.
PRO: If you are someone who struggles to get his or her work done because of the office social climate and co-worker “drop ins”, then working from home is probably a much more productive and beneficial option. Since you probably don’t spend the full 8 hours a day in the office doing actual work, you should be able to free up a lot of time by focusing on your work from home.
CON: If you are a social butterfly or are someone who likes to interact with other co-workers, then telecommuting is probably not for you. Emails, phone calls, instant messaging, and conferences cannot replace social interaction. Several telecommuters report that they long for the face-to-face interaction with their fellow employees.
Matt Lowney is a Nashville, Tennessee based recruiter, career consultant, and co-host of Career Talk, a weekly one hour career advice radio talk show that airs from 5 to 6 pm each Friday on WAKM 950. For more information he can be reached at mlowney1977@yahoo.com
