Common Telecommuting Misconceptions
Why Working From Home Isn't Necessarily All it's Cracked Up to Be!
Jun 1, 2009
Many workers say their dream jobs would allow them to work from home. It sounds great; working in your pajamas, making your own schedule, taking time off to go to a child’s school function! The idea of telecommuting can be very enticing. Unfortunately, this is not the reality in most cases. If you are interested in trying it, however, there are some things to keep in mind before making the leap into home based employment.
Find the Right Employer
There is a definite trend among businesses toward telecommuting. These days, employers realize they can save tremendous amounts of money by alleviating the need to maintain office spaces. Many companies however, are not interested in this as an option for their employees. If you are currently in an office based position, approach your boss carefully when broaching the subject, being careful not to give the impression you are unhappy in your job under its current conditions. Your proposition should stress the benefits to the organization and demonstrate that productivity levels will either stay the same or increase.
If you are looking for a new employer, however, there are resources available to assist you in finding the right home based position. Websites such as Rat Race Rebellion and Hire My Mom regularly screen ads on multiple job boards or solicit them from employers directly. They compile the best telecommuting positions into convenient lists which are updated frequently. In addition, the administrators attempt to weed out ads that are suspected scams. One must consider that most work-at-home jobs, however, provide moderate income and limited options. Many positions are entry level and involve sales, customer service, or call center work. Rarely is one able to find upper level telecommuting positions.
Explore Your Tax and Benefit Options
Many companies which hire home based workers require them to work as independent contractors. As a contractor, you are not an actual employee of the company; you are self-employed. You are, therefore, responsible for increased tax obligations, paying for all of your business expenses such as licenses and equipment costs, and providing your own benefits such as health insurance and retirement accounts. This can be a costly endeavor, and the expenses may not be offset by a meager salary.
Consider Your Family
A common misconception among those desiring to work from home is that they will have more free time and flexibility in their schedules. This is rarely the case. Most companies require telecommuting workers to be on the job during normal business hours. In addition, some require very strict schedule adherence. Even small deviations, such as returning from a scheduled lunch break a few minutes late, can result in harsh penalties or termination.
In addition, employers often require a quiet workspace with little distraction, interruption, and background noise. It is very difficult to provide this environment while young children are present, therefore telecommuting should not be expected to provide an alternative to daycare. Allison, a work-at-home mother of two small children, states: “Working from home is a constant struggle. It’s virtually impossible to divide your time between work responsibilities and attending to your child’s needs. It leaves you feeling that you are neglecting one or the other.” She frequently finds herself multi-tasking. During the June 1, 2009, telephone interview, in fact, Allison was also working, cooking dinner, and helping her daughter with a project. In an effort to cut down on these types of distractions, her children attend daycare several days a week, allowing Allison quiet time to focus exclusively on her job duties.
Another common problem for those who telecommute is time management. Many workers find it difficult to clock out at the end of the day, taking time away from their family lives. Allison states, “When you work from home, the work is always there and you have to set a line between work and your personal life.” After telecommuting for the last three years, she still struggles to master this difficult task at times.
Telecommuting can be a rewarding and optimal arrangement for some workers. Like anything, however, it also has difficulties. Before beginning to work from home, one must realistically consider the drawbacks as well as the positives that it can provide, rather that falling prey to the common misconceptions surrounding this type of employment.
 |
