Is Telecommuting for You? The Pros and Cons of Telecommuting
Is Telecommuting for You? The Pros and Cons of Telecommuting
Telecommuting, basically working from home and connecting via computer and other technologies, can be great for employees and companies too. Employees have increased flexibility and more, and companies can often invest in less office space if not all employees are onsite all the time. More and more companies are not only allowing but also encouraging it these days. Telecommuting does have pros and cons and may not be appropriate for everyone or every business.
Many of the pros are obvious. You are in control of your own schedule. You may be much more productive without office distractions and without wasting time commuting. You have more flexibility by far, including when it comes to childcare and other caregiver responsibilities. Your company doesn't need to have full time dedicated office space for you. For many of us these benefits are immense!
There are also many cons as well, including the big one that many people do not have the self discipline to work at home. It might not just be your self discipline, but also that others like your spouse or any children may not respect your work time. You may also feel isolated and not part of the team if working from home often; do not underestimate the potential power of this! You also will be to some extent out of the loop especially if face time is important.
I love telecommuting. It works for me, but it doesn't work for every business or every individual. It's something worth trying if possible for just about everybody.