Discussion on:

The 10 worst things about working from home

I am in support so I have never had the priviledge of working from home but I am sure that there has to be some really great things about working from home.

is not having to drive into the office! My commute can be anywhere from 40 minutes to 3 hours (yes, it once took me 3 hours to get home during a blizzard because people panic completely forget how to drive!) I hate being trapped in my car when all I'm doing is driving to and from work...road trips are another story.

I'm also growing less and less fond of those who work around me, especially when they are funky from not showering (can you NOT smell yourself?!), or basically do nothing but obscure my view of half a window because they can't seem to get rid of the empty boxes in their cubicle.

Had one of the dreaded department lunches today, I was screaming inside my head the whole time.

I would take the worst things about working from home over working at the office any day!

That is my commute both ways from Southern York County PA to Glen Burnie MD. And 20+ miles of that is the beltway so I can relate to long commutes. There are days when getting home in an hour and a half is a treat.

I started working for a very large network service company in hopes of being transferred to a 'virtual office'.
Currently, I am restructuring a large Active Directory that had basically never been managed in 10 years.
There is no point of having me drive 1 hr to work each day where the ticketing system and network is completely accessible from the internet.

The boss downsizes you because he forgets who you are.

Here is my list of why I like to work from home. There are stipulations for these to work. No little kids and no pets if you can't take them to the 'Office' don't have them as distraction at the home office. Keep yourself clean. At a home office I can shower when I want for me that is usually 5:00am and 3:00pm give or take an hour or so depending on the day plan. Lastly may a day plan. Eventually it become a good habit.

I am not going to explain each point so here is the list.

10. Fewer distractions (part of #2)
9. I can be comfortable without being a slob
8. With the extra time you can catch up on technical issues
7. I can get 'personal' stuff done and still work a full day
6. Not just for Moms anymore
5. I can decorate/or not. Make the work place as spartan or homey as you like
4. From the company point of view - No office space required
3. Choose your hours
2. Nobody stop by for a 'quick question'
1. Did I mention, No Commute!

... for people who don't like to get up before sunrise. Or, if you're like me, much before nine.

No one cares when you start work -- as long as it gets done.

(I've worked from home since 1994, and this is definitely Number 1 for me!)

I have worked from home a number of years and really enjoy it. I get far more done during the work day and have learned the finer points like: dressing and showering EVERY day, keeping regular office hours, and keeping the dog downstairs where he belongs.

The past year or so I got a video conferencing unit on my desk--not Skype, but a really clear H.332 unit. Now I touch base with my boss often--usually at least once a day, can partake in a meeting at the office while still being home, and MUST have my hair in place and my makeup on, because you never know who might 'pop' in via video conference during the day.

I feel more connected, like I'm not out of the loop at the office, and my boss won't forget who I am.

Also, I ususally drive in (an hour's commute) once a week for a managers' meeting--while I could video conference in and do if the weather is bad--I think it is important for others on the team to remember you are real and need to be involved and considered when decisions are made, etc.

I guess you could say I have the best of both worlds!

If your office has access to video conferencing, shouldn't you?

All great points and some good but interesting replies!

1. Seems to me that those who 'miss the social interaction at the office' have other issues they should look at. If you need to have others around in order to feel or fill the need of 'interaction', you should seriously take a look at the who's and why's! While regular interaction in person can be interesting, I'm sure self examination will reveal that the greater percentage of those interactions are more 'distractions' and 'wastes of time' than not!

2. Interesting that these same folks who 'need to be around other folks for interaction' can't figure out how to manage their own time making the most out of their personal working environment at home...can't organize, always distracted, feeling lonely...these are symptoms of personality issues and not understanding themselves or being comfortable with who they are. Definitely NOT self-starters! Plus, these people will be miserable if/when they ever get to a 'retirement' model!

3. Those that make 'working from home' work both for themselves and their employer are the ones that do/can/will make a difference in their lives and those around them. These people tend to be self-motivated, can-do, get-it-doners...ya know, the kind of people that most likely started the company that others go to work and the office for!

4. I've spent the last 30+ years in technology, from IBM Unit Record Machine (401 Calculator, Univac 1701's, etc.) to running multi-national software and support operations with offices on 4 continents in 30 countries, had offices, employees (in-house & remote), cubicles, corner offices and hallways. I managed to start working from home in 1996 and while the adjustments were challenging in the first couple of years, I now wouldn't go back to 'the box' unless I was making a startup play or transistioning a business model...even then, there'd be a set time frame for exit back to what I consider a 'normal working and personal life.'

I believe that working from home is where we all should be focused as eventually, that's where we'll all end up...if planned properly, it'll be your home where the wonders of life (both personal and professional) can be explored and experienced to the fullest! The alternative is a 'rest home' and I plan to steer clear of that destination where the social interaction will not be what I'd be happy with!

The movie is at 8pm, it's now 5:55, your wife and kids are in the car, and you are still hitting the las couple of keystrokes, your boss is asking you about x thing, you received an email alert and need to check whats happening. Finally you are late and miss the first 15 minutes of the movie.
Ok, that has being repeated over the last 10 times you go to the movies (to dinner, to the doctor, etc, etc, etc..), at some point that will start to cause problems with other family members.
You need to discipline yourself, if not you will start to have problems in many aspects of your life.
Work for a company that everybody works from home, and I have seen many negative patterns that at some point everybody seems to fall in.

Sure, you have the Iron Will of a Tibetan Monk, but sometimes that just isn't enough to keep you on the computer and away from the guitar...(this would particularly be my downfall)

that repair that has been nagging at you so you fix it rather than work

or that new dvd or video game are so much more interesting than work.

What are they?

I would get fixated on Family Guy. I have all the seasons, so I'm never short of 'better' things to do.

other areas on the web.

Like Tech Republic's "The 10 worst things about working from home" and all the responses.

Or a photo gallery from NASA with close to 100 pictures.

Oops! I guess I'm talking about me - TODAY!

It would be beer and guitar and nothing would get done.

I mean it's unhealthy to hold a fart in...

Imprisoned in your workplace is a killer though, if you've got the space and facilities for a work room, set it up, use it and then exit to rest of the house.

I haven't, six months of working from home and I was in rubber room territory.

I don't smoke or have a cat / dog.

Almost all of these have applied to me at one time or another, except #10. My wife stays at home with our son, and she loves to ask me to do things that she could do herself, like get glasses of water. She is my #7, not the neighbors.

#3 hits me BAD. I get 3 weeks of time off (vacation + sick time) each year. Last year I used 5 days. This year I used two so far (for the TR event). But the weird thing is, I don't mind it so much because of #4. Never mind the fact that I am so much more productive at home than in the office that the occasional "zoned out day" still doesn't impact my overall productivity.

J.Ja

"sometimes you can get more done @ home than when at the office"

and after a few times of that happening
- it's expected all the time

The Death Rain potato chips are calling me...

You forget how to dress. Gym shorts when it's hot, sweat pants when it's not. Shower & shave? Maybe. Wear shoes & socks, not slippers? Please don't make me. We won't even mention belts & ties.

It definitely takes more discipline to work from home. This list is a good "what not to do" guide. If managed correctly, I often get A LOT more done from home that I do at the office.

Equipment and supplies taking up space in my garage. A laptop always taking up space in the corner of the living room. Big packages taking up space in the mailbox. A work vehicle taking up space in the driveway, plus having to shovel it out in winter. Sometimes working around the clock while neighbors wonder if I am working at all. Would I give it up in return for the daily commute? No way in hell!

IT'S SOOOOO BORING!!!

Having spent 5 years working at home, I eventually got a real job in the office because I was unbelievably bored!

I have a cat, a dog, a son and a wife who works part time, and that was the entirety of my existance for 5 years.. The TV was on all day for company, but you begin to notice how many times they repeat something, even through the course of the same day. I've seen every episode of Stargate, Star Trek, Simpsons, CSI, NCIS and a bunch of other programs, at least twice.

I found myself bouncing off the walls searching for a reason to leave the house. So now I have an office job, I get up at 6am instead of 9.30, and see hundreds of people each day and actively look forward to being at home. Sure, being in an office has its drawbacks, and we'd all occasionally like a sneaky lay in, but working from home is worse than being unemployed, because at least if you're unemployed you can leave the house when you like... It was much more akin to being in prison.

Been there, seen that, done that.. I won't do it again! I like my office job thanks very much.

Uh....
You state that you "eventually got a REAL job"?????

So your home-office job was pretend?

....it probably is.

But if you're that concerned with the perception of people who aren't even paying you, I'd say you're not ready to be self-employed anyway.

There's no shortage of people with no shortage of opinions. That doesn't mean they know what's best for you.

What kind of work from home job did you have??

Maybe he got up at 9:30 because he worked until 1:00 am.

One where I'm pushed to challenge my limits, one where I'm not bored the majority of the time and one where I was actually doing something.

I live in Switzerland, my previous job was managing servers in the UK, and the UK based company I worked for opened at 9am.. Hence I started at 10am, factor in 10 mins for a shower, 5 mins to boil the kettle and 15mins to mosy about and I got up at 9.30.. Until I got a dog when I started getting up at 8.30 so I could walk him for an hour before I started. I had automated so many things in the past 5 years that managing 70 servers single handed was a breeze.. The biggest challenge was handing over to someone when I finally left.. I'd grown so automated over the years, I didn't actually think about much that I was doing..

I won't ever work from home again on a regular basis.. I like being around other people too much, there's no social life at home.. You even run out of things to say to your wife because every day is pretty much like the previous one.

C'mon! Your boss becoming a stranger is a bad thing? Maybe if your increases are based on his knowledge of you; but most big companies now have implemented salary increases that have nothing to do with individual performance but rather what the marketplace is doing. The less I see of my boss, the better!

My favorite is #7 though. AAAAARrrrrrrgh.

Hygiene habits tip-toe on the unacceptable: You wake up, hit the bathroom, brush your teeth and plop in front of the computer. The day flies by, you fix an unhealthy dinner, watch tv or surf the web, check in on work items one last time and go to bed. You wake up the next morning and do it all over again. Then it hits you; you don't exactly remember the last time you showered.

Don't people have friends at work? Lunch with work buddies? I like working at home some, but I miss the social interaction after a couple of days.

I couldn't believe this one. Don't you have friends outside of work? Don't you go to lunch with others besides co-workers?

There's LOTS of people to have lunch with, and it's a LOT easier if you can flex the lunch time, or invite them over for a casual lunch at home.

and with the plethora of social networking (you can use a second computer) even virtualwatercooler is just about obsolete.

All the people I'd have lunch with would be at their office jobs.

I think that if all it takes for you to become lazy or lose track of your ability to socialize is working from home then you were already lacking a desire to stay fit and any social graces in the first place!

I work from home often and all summer when my son is out of school because my wife has to be in her office.

I run 9 miles a week and bike in between, I go up and down stairs doing chores and taking breaks, and I never had much in the way of subtle social skills anyway but I can interact with my peers and the team members I direct.

I actually miss the interactions in the office and enjoy being around other people - that could be part of the difference!

It?s easy to extend working hours.
A separate room for the office, even if it is a small one. Leave the room at 5 pm and lock the door with a key, which my be left in the door or hooked up beside. Don?t open the door until 8 am next day.

try to remember to print flight tickets, etc during office time so there isn?t any extra bisits in the office room, except picking up your cellphone, laptop and briefcase before leaving for an businesstrip.

Be efficient at the office and have a good quality of the leasure time.

because you do housework as a work avoidance tactic

In my company we can work from home one day a week, and in some special cases 2 or 3 days a week. Thus you get the benefits of fewer distractions and no commute for some of the time, and yet still retain your polite habits and are still visible to your boss. I love how it works out, and it saves me 52 hours a year in commuting.

I agree - although the one day at home is used working for my Husbands business, I still set a routine.

By 9am, I have to be showered and dressed for the office (jeans acceptable - dress down day - with basic housework already done - dishwasher, washing machine and tumble drier) - break for lunch 12/12.30 - empty dishwasher/washer/dryer and refill/start as necessary - 1pm back to work until 4.30. No distractions allowed at work - ipod on shuffle and loudspeaker for low background noise. Even have a thermos of coffee with me in the separate office so I dont have to go to the kitchen and a downstairs cloakroom so no long visits to bathroom - Works really well so long as you have self discipline

Impressive!