Home Based Jobs can come in all different forms. Whether your employer allows you to work from home or you have decided to start your own at home business, there are many options available to you.
There are many people who are well suited to flexible working patterns and working from home not only improves their productivity but greatly enhances their quality of life. Successful home based workers have discipline, self motivation and high level organisation skills. However, it should be recognised that working from home does not suit everyone. Some people prefer the structured, work day and perform better when surrounded by Colleagues.
Work At Home Jobs are on the increase and in huge demand. The growing and future trend of flexible work practices in Australia may lead to more work from home opportunities
The Advantages of Working from Home
Here are some of the advantages to think about when deciding on whether a work from home job would suit you.
Reduction in the amount of time spent travelling to your workplace each day. For some people, this can represent up to 2-3 hours a day commuting, often using public transport services. Think to yourself, how wonderful would it be not travelling to work on a daily basis. No more over crowded trains or buses that are constantly running late or breaking down. Imagine saving yourself 10 or more hours per week if your Employer allowed you to work from a home office.
You would save money by reducing the cost of travel such as petrol, parking, maintenance, servicing and wear and tear on your car.
Working from home also benefits society by reducing traffic and pollution, By not commuting to an office and requiring your employer to create space for you (space that has to be heated and cooled, etc), you are doing your part by reducing pollution and your carbon footprint, every little bit helps.
Save money on food and coffee. Homemade lunches are fresh and easy. Working at home removes any temptations you have to spend money on lunches and your daily coffee fix. .
Save on wardrobe costs and spend less on work clothes. Even if your company allows you to work part time from home, there are fewer days you are required to go into the office which means less clothes to buy.
Higher productivity when working at home and better overall use of time. Have some flexibility in your working day. Fit in appointments, eat lunch when it suits you, bring in the washing before the rain starts, allow trades people into the house, and help out at school. Of course, taking time out for personal things means working at other times to make up the time, but you may find it easier to focus on work when those other tasks are being managed.
Less stress and creating happier lives for many people. Improved balance between work responsibilities and family commitments means happier families. Parents stay closer to, and are able to monitor the activities of their children, something that’s important in households where both parents work. You are available to pick kids up and drop them off, attend soccer training, ballet, meet with teachers and respond to emergencies and sickness.
Most people today have responsibilities for others and you may be a care giver. With an ageing population in Australia the demands as a care giver will increase over the next few years. Imagine having the flexibility to balance your work patterns to suit your life. Being available to provide care for your loved ones, the ability to meet with Doctors and attend hospital treatments, pick up chemist prescriptions and always being able to assure that those you care for are provided constant companionship, love and safety.
Feeling comfortable. Working at home means you choose your chair and desk, you set the temperature and you set the dress code. It can also give you more choices about where to work, for example, if you have to read a report you could sit in the garden in the sunshine.
No office distractions. You can focus on your work without the distraction of other workers visiting your desk or talking around or over you. You can also avoid a lot of the office politics when you work at home.
Tax advantages. You are able to claim on utility costs and office equipment.
The Disadvantages of Working from Home
To work from home successfully, you need to at least be aware of the disadvantages.
Separating home and work life. Often when working from home, some people are unable to separate their family or home life from their work life. Working from home is not as “easy” as some people make it out to be. The work is not going to magically get completed on its own. Even though you are going to be working from home, you still need to commit yourself just as much as you would if you were working in an actual workplace setting. In practice achieving a good balance between home and work life can be difficult.
Isolation. When you work from home you don’t have colleagues to share professional ideas or brainstorm with. There is less support and camaraderie. Some see work as a place to socialise and to make new friends. At home, you do not have this advantage, and being by yourself all day can be isolating.
New sources of distraction & interruptions. When friends & family are aware that you are working from home, they are more likely to call or drop in. Kids may wander in and out of your work space, or fight when you’ are on the phone with clients.
Lack of supervision. Some people who work from home are disciplined enough to work on their own without supervision. Others need the structure of the boss or colleagues around.
Working From Home – Lifestyle Success
Overcoming Isolation
Schedule regular business lunches, walks, or tennis games. Some people who work from home need more social contact than others. Figure out how often you need to see colleagues and build it into your routine. Schedule one day per week in the office.
Overcoming Lack of Supervision
Set daily and weekly goals, and be accountable for these. Be honest about what you have and have not achieved. You will find yourself working more productively and producing results. If you can’t work from home successfully, consider going back to the office or keeping a diary of your minutes and hours worked.
Overcoming Friends & Family
Screen your calls and don’t answer personal ones during your work day. Be firm with your kids or partner, tell them you are “at work” and you are not to be interrupted. Meet your friends for lunch or walks only during your scheduled break times. If you are a parent with young children childcare arrangements are essential.
Overcoming Lazy Days
Since there is no pressure to start work at a certain time or dress a certain way it is very easy to delay the start of work. Productivity can seriously decrease under such circumstances if great self discipline is not maintained. Successful home based workers have discipline, self motivation and high level organisation skills.
Overcoming Work Never Ends
When you work from home, it can be tempting to be constantly monitoring things, even when you are not working. You need to set yourself dedicated days and hours and be strict with yourself to stick to this routine at all times.
The Advantages to Business – Working From Home
Before you decide that your employer would never allow you to work from home, consider the advantages to them as well:
They gain by your increased productivity. Various studies have shown this to be true but it relates to you being happier, less tired and frustrated form the commute, less distracted by colleagues and office politics and feeling in control.
They save money by not having to provide you with a desk and the associated space. Some businesses use a ‘hot-desking’ approach where there are fewer office spaces than workers. This approach reduces accommodation overheads.
They save on payroll costs. You are less likely to get sick so they get more working days from you
They become an ‘Employer of Choice so have less staff turnover which saves money and increases productivity
They are unaffected by disruptions so it is business as usual, disruptions such as weather, floods, fires, strikes, transport breakdowns and the like.
They improve Equal Opportunities for work. This can be provided by offering work from home positions to people with disability.
Good luck in your job search for work at home employment.
Leah Gibbs is the Founder and Business Manager of Lifestyle Careers.
Lifestyle Careers is an online recruitment job board. Our niche and specific focus is the advertising of flexible employment and work at home positions. It is designed for professionals wanting to balance their work and personal life.
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I think a work from home job is more beneficial to your family. No coming home from office uptight and stressed.