Since I've done both, here has been my experience:
- Working from home is best if others in the company/organization are also working from home, and there is a company policy (read: support) for this arrangement.
- It is easy to feel left out or have co-workers resent your situation, if you are the only one working from home. Also, trying to be the only one on a conference call at home, with everyone else in the same room, is very difficult!
The pros are fairly obvious, from saving money on gas and clothes, being able to work in your own environment without disrupting others (with your pet on your lap, controlled temperature, radio on, sleeping baby in the crib next to you or breast feeding, in your PJs, etc). You are saving the company overhead, which is a plus for them (office equipment, electricity, phone, office space..although there should be an arrangement that they reimburse you for these expenses at your house). Also, if you can work from home, many people can work from anywhere, including the library or coffee shop, for a change of scenery.
The cons for me were lack of social opportunities with co-workers, not feeling included in office decisions. Your influence is lessened at work. The stigma that you are not working as hard as others who are in the office.
A pro and con: not being invited to as many meetings (most of us would agree this is a good thing, but less face-time can mean you are overlooked for promotions).
Another pro and con: working closer to family. It takes a strong person to be able to set work vs. home boundaries for themselves. "Alone time" is even more important, if you are seeing your family 24/7. My husband works from home, and he literally leaves from his home office through the front door, walks around the block to "transition" from work to family time, and then "comes home".
There are so many different situations with working from home or working 4 days a week (this is my ideal option, but never had the opportunity to try it)
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Since I've done both, here has been my experience:
- Working from home is best if others in the company/organization are also working from home, and there is a company policy (read: support) for this arrangement.
- It is easy to feel left out or have co-workers resent your situation, if you are the only one working from home. Also, trying to be the only one on a conference call at home, with everyone else in the same room, is very difficult!
The pros are fairly obvious, from saving money on gas and clothes, being able to work in your own environment without disrupting others (with your pet on your lap, controlled temperature, radio on, sleeping baby in the crib next to you or breast feeding, in your PJs, etc). You are saving the company overhead, which is a plus for them (office equipment, electricity, phone, office space..although there should be an arrangement that they reimburse you for these expenses at your house). Also, if you can work from home, many people can work from anywhere, including the library or coffee shop, for a change of scenery.
The cons for me were lack of social opportunities with co-workers, not feeling included in office decisions. Your influence is lessened at work. The stigma that you are not working as hard as others who are in the office.
A pro and con: not being invited to as many meetings (most of us would agree this is a good thing, but less face-time can mean you are overlooked for promotions).
Another pro and con: working closer to family. It takes a strong person to be able to set work vs. home boundaries for themselves. "Alone time" is even more important, if you are seeing your family 24/7. My husband works from home, and he literally leaves from his home office through the front door, walks around the block to "transition" from work to family time, and then "comes home".
There are so many different situations with working from home or working 4 days a week (this is my ideal option, but never had the opportunity to try it)
October 12, 2008 - 2:10pmThis Comment
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