Have you noticed? There is a lot of publicity these days about working from home - increasing numbers of people are dreaming of leaving
rat race; TV programmes are made showing families leaving city and moving to a rural retreat; and more and more employers are offering their staff opportunity to work at least part of their working week from home. Even security of employment is no longer assured. Then add to this explosion of Internet businesses that can be worked from home. No wonder for some people temptation to jump straight in and 'do their own thing' from home is irresistible.But what are problems or drawbacks that have to be considered before making this decision? And what are rewards and benefits that can be gained?
The plus points of course are well documented: no daily commute, no having to dress for office, no difficult bosses, more time with family.
From my own point of view, because of a health problem, I could no longer go out to work so decision was made for me. But I had to think long and hard about how to make it work, and to find ways to overcome problems I would encounter. So, what are these problems? ·there is no longer security of a pay cheque at end of every month: if you don't work, you don't earn any money; ·the necessity of having a separate office space - could you manage with kids dropping ice-cream on your paperwork, for instance? ·the distractions of household chores during your work time: I'll just get that pot of soup made now while I wait for that document to print out! ·the distractions of not working: phone calls to friends, reading newspaper, just going to get another biscuit, or even going back to bed! ·knowing when to stop working: or you could just become a bore; ·isolation: no colleagues to bounce ideas off, or gossip with; ·and having to provide your own pension and insurance; sorting out your taxes; and keeping accounts.
