It’s the latest addition to your lifestyle choices – the new law (from 30 June 2014) that allows all workers to request flexible working patterns from their employers. A substantial proportion of this flexible working will be the increasingly attractive working from home option. Yet would it suit you?
Do you have the “right” personality? Are you disciplined enough to get up and get on with your work in the comfort of your own home? Can you fit in the required hours round all the potential distractions from chores and leisure activities you normally do at home? What about the job you do? Is it suitable for working on your own? Do you need technology which is only available at your employer’s work premises or can you access it from home? Do you need to work with others in meetings and interviews or would you benefit from quiet time for reading, research or creative thinking? All these factors need to be considered before deciding to go ahead with a homeworking trial.
The onslaught of modern technology has enabled the transfer of many jobs to the privacy of your own home. This brings mixed reactions from different groups of people. For those who are able to take advantage of this practice it is the best of both worlds (or at least the best way of muddling through all those things to do in life). For those left in traditional “go to work and stay there till you’re finished” jobs resentment may set in. Watching co-workers come and go as they please may not engender the best working relationships.
The biggest problem with working from home I have found is from other people – namely those family and friends you have told about your arrangements. For some reason, I have found that people find it very hard to glean the word “work” from “work from home”. All they seem to latch onto is the word “home”. This is followed by endless phone calls and drop-ins as they realize you are indeed at home. I’ve lost count of the times I have had to say, ‘yes, it’s very nice to hear from/see you but I am actually working at the moment’.
The problem is that if you are disturbed then your working hours expand. No longer can you rely on the 9 to 5 rules – if you take time out it will have to be made up later. The hours you keep are up to you but you do have to keep those hours. If you can’t put the toil in the work won’t get done. Many an evening’s TV entertainment has had to be abandoned for me due to interruptions during the day. Often those sacred weekends have to be infiltrated too. This is obviously not conducive to family bonding so not to be encouraged. As far as possible it is best to tell everyone you know what hours you want to work and to encourage them not to disturb you during these times. This will then give you some time off whilst your family are around. They are, after all, normally your main priority.
The work/life balance issue is normally uppermost in your mind when you try homeworking. Whilst I try to strive for set hours each day there are times when I know I am needed elsewhere or it is easier to do a chore during working hours. Then I know I will have to make up the time in the evening. I can cope with this for the odd day here and there but don’t want it to become the norm as it makes me feel too displaced.
Apart from a personal perspective, there are many benefits to local society and the local economy that we all need to consider. One is for parents. Children who are able to come home straight from school can usually relax more. This should lead to better attainment at school as they learn best when they are rested and happy. Also, it makes a young child’s day if their parent can turn up at school for those important events, such as sports day and assemblies. School holidays and INSET days can be accommodated much easier. Sickness days may still result in a hurried change of plans but at least you know you can rearrange your day to be there for them.
Your immediate local economy will benefit from you popping in to the corner shop to top up your groceries instead of in the larger towns and cities. You will be spending money closer to home and could potentially improve your health too if you are able to walk to the local shops instead of always driving there.
The environment will thank you too as the roads will need to cope with one less car (assuming you drive). This will improve the health of all those you usually drive past and will also improve your bank balance due to the saving of petrol expenses. Your mental health will benefit too as the stresses and strains of negotiating the early morning routine and rush hour jam disappear.
You may not even have to get out of bed to start your day at work! I have been known to prop myself up against my pillows, power up the laptop and begin whilst still in my PJs. Try it first and see how productive you are before dismissing it.
Working from home can be a blessing but it must be treated with respect. It is still work time and business must be done. It does give you the chance to try new ways of working, you may be better working very early in the morning or later at night. You can experiment and find out when you are most alert and steer your working times accordingly. Used well, homeworking can be the best solution to many of our work/life issues.