As many as 25 percent of working Americans telecommute today, to some degree, according to a recent report published by Global Workplace Analytics. The remaining 75 percent don’t know what they’re missing.OK, so working from home might not be for everyone, nor does every company allow for it, but as many telecommuters (or “teleworkers”) have discovered over the years, it offers numerous advantages to the employee and employer – even if it’s only a couple of days a weekhether you want to work from home or down the street at your local coffee shop, thanks to technology there’s never been a better time to work from anywhere,” says Christine Johansen, spokesperson for Cisco, a global technology solutions company that employs nearly 74,000 people worldwide.
Johansen, who has been telecommuting for 20 years (seven of those at Cisco), says while she works at home in Marlborough, Mass., she interacts with colleagues in many other countries -- as far as Singapore. “Technology lets me video chat with coworkers and securely access files, plus we collaborate in real-time using tools like [Cisco] Spark.”
Advantages Of Telecommuting
For the telecommuter, working from home paves the way for a better work-life balance. With average commute times in the United States at 25.4 minutes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, you’re freeing up almost 4.5 hours over a 5-day work week. Many can take their kids to and from school, and spend more time on themselves, such as at the gym.
Many at-home workers save money on professional attire and restaurant lunches, and telecommuters aren’t distracted by chatty colleagues or being dragged into meetings not directly relevant to their work.
For the employer, “companies can hire the best person for the job, and not just the one who lives closest to the office,” maintains Johansen.
Companies with a strong telecommuting policy might save money on office space, utilities, equipment and other expenses, such as salaries, as many workers have opted to take less money to work from home. A recent Global Workplace Analytics report has shown those who work from home are not only more productive but happier employees, which is good for company morale and retention.More telecommuters translate to fewer cars on the road, which is also good for the environment.
Naturally, there are some downsides to telecommuting. Unless you’re disciplined, it could be a challenge to remain focused with all the distractions at home. Many say they miss interpersonal connections over lunch, coffee breaks, or while working shoulder-to-shoulder on a project. And while cloud and encryption technology ensures strong security even with remote employees, not all companies are set up properly for at-home workers and thus might be more vulnerable to a data breach.Figure out what works best for you. Working from home isn’t a “one size fits all” scenario. Some people, for example, are “segregators” who need to be closed off from personal life (such as in a home office), while others are “integrators” who work better in, say, a kitchen, and with kids and pets around. If you work better in the morning, work in the morning. If you get more down after the sun goes down, stick with that. Determine what works best for you and embrace it. But be sure to take advantage of technology to make your job more productive, including fast and reliable wireless Internet, a good computer with high-quality webcam, organizational and collaborative apps, and cloud storage to best protect your data.
But morning has been found to be best. Contrary to my first telecommuting tip, numerous studies have found those who get the bulk of their work done in the morning are more productive and successful than those who sleep in. On a personal note, I try to get as much done before lunch as possible, which frees up time in the afternoon to prep well for the next day, go after new business (as a freelancer), bounce ideas off friends or other self-employed types over a coffee, or take a mental break, such as a jog around the block, before going back to work. As someone who works from home, I often have trouble turning work “off,” even at night, but be sure to set some time for yourself and family.
Be comfortable. Unless you’re video conferencing and don’t want to look like a schlep, wear whatever makes you comfortable – even if it’s sweatpants, t-shirt, and baseball cap. Sit in a comfortable chair, with an ergonomic keyboard and don’t squint at a teeny monitor when larger ones are dirt cheap nowadays. For those who spend a lot of time chatting on the phone for work, a hands-free headset is a more comfortable choice compared to holding a handset up to one's ear. This is especially true for those who like to multitask, such as typing on a computer while talking at the same time. Keep water at your desk to remain hydrated.
Turn off distractions. While it boils down to personal preference, having a home office is a good idea for a couple of reasons: you might work more efficiently without being near distractions like television shows, Facebook notifications, fatty snacks in a kitchen, or hearing the kids argue over a toy; closing a home office door means your colleagues or clients are less likely to hear the dog barking at a squirrel in the window (and get to know your phone’s Mute button, too); and you might need a separate home office for any tax credits and write-offs you’re looking for. Distractions are bad, but breaks are good. Take them, but then go back to work.
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