Opinions on working from home?

MrsNaples06 · July 2011

So I just started a new job about 3 months ago which is going well and the company is great. But, I got a call last week that a friend recommended me for a position with another company. I would be working from home and then just traveling for trade shows and to see a handful of accounts. The pay is a lot more than I make now but they are trying to re-vamp their brand b/c it hasn't been very profitable the past few years so it's kinda risky. I'm wondering if I would even like working from home but it is attractive b/c then I can pick up DS early from daycare everyday and not fight rush hr traffic.

So, if you or your DH works from home- do they like it? Any details would help!! Thanks!!

Daisy22 · July 2011

I work from home and have for quite a while. I love it and it's a perfect fit for me. To be honest it's not for everyone especially if you like being around other people or need some adult interaction. For me it doesn't bother me but my husband worked from home when he was traveling a couple year back. It about drove him crazy. He felt like he never left work b/c it was always here and he'd go stir crazy in the house. You also have to be disclipined to work and not do other things that need to be done at home.

The good part to me is I can pick up Bailey easily in the afternoons, I don't have to get dressed up for work in the mornings, and I don't have to battle any traffic.

Shekels831 · July 2011

Daisy22:

I work from home and have for quite a while. I love it and it's a perfect fit for me. To be honest it's not for everyone especially if you like being around other people or need some adult interaction. For me it doesn't bother me but my husband worked from home when he was traveling a couple year back. It about drove him crazy. He felt like he never left work b/c it was always here and he'd go stir crazy in the house. You also have to be disclipined to work and not do other things that need to be done at home.

The good part to me is I can pick up Bailey easily in the afternoons, I don't have to get dressed up for work in the mornings, and I don't have to battle any traffic.

This is exactly my husband. He has worked from home since we moved to Israel last year and he is so ready to get back to the States where he will have an office out of the house. It drives him (and me) crazy that he feels he has to answer the phone and email at all hours. He is never off. You'd definitely need to set ground rules for yourself on when you will work and stick to it. Also have a private office where you can close the door and focus fully on work instead of being distracted by the comforts of home.

K&P414 · July 2011

I work from home for the most part. I love it and at this point in our lives it is the only option that works for us. What we sacrifice in pay we make up for in my availibility.

The best advice that I have is that you have to set a realistic schedule of when you are going to be in "work mode" and when to be in "home mode." If I don't do that my whole day ends up with 25% of the house work done, 25% of my real work done and me 100% stressed out.

As far as the risk of the new job, I would at least meet with the company and see if they can give you any reassurance. I think for more money and more flexible hours it is definitely worth at least looking into it.

MrsNaples06 · July 2011

Hm... thanks for the feedback. That's what I was afraid of.. I'm a people person and really outgoing and I think it might get really lonely at home by myself. I don't think I would be working around the clock or anything like that because it's pretty easy for me to turn off work mode and I don't have a job that requires me being on call or anything. I'm talking to the company tonight so I guess I'll find out more then but right now I'm thinking it will be a pass.

slwprincess · July 2011

I work from home a couple days a week. I like it but wouldn't want to do it full time. I miss out on that interaction and the routine of going into the office. Since I only do it part time, I keep a list of tasks that I can only do in the office and focus on the other stuff from home. It works out well. There are some projects that are just easier to do at home away from the distractions. The biggest advantages for me are the flexibility in my hours and no commute. I wake up in the morning at my normal time and make my coffee and log on. I get more done in those first 2 hours before my coworkers even arrive than in an entire day coming into the office. I am very proactive with my managers about keeping them aware of what projects I am working on. I think they get annoyed with me sometimes with all my status reports but I just want to make sure that they know how productive I am at home. I also like that I can run to the grocery store for my lunch break or fold some laundry or get something done around the house. I work so far from home that those kinds of errands are not usually an option. My biggest frustration is with computer speed. We have super fast internet but when you have to go through a VPN, it's just going to slow things down.

AugustaBride04 · July 2011

I have worked from home for 3 years now FT and love it. I would not have it any other way. My particular group is unique in that we are based all over the country. So we are setup to work remote long distances. I love that I have no commute and a flexible schedule. I love that I get to spend more time with with my kids. I will say that I make a concerted effort to reach out to my coworkers and colleagues to chit chat and to keep that social connection. You can feel isolated at times, but if you make the effort it helps. I will say I feel I am much more productive working at home and enjoy being away from the office politics. With that said I am very proactive and have a lists of tasks to complete each day. I hold tons of conference calls and keep everyone updated and in the loop. I am more prone to do work after hours if needed bc of the easy access, bur that is recognized by my boss. I go in the office maybe every other month or so for 1 -3 days for meetings/ training etc. I truly love it and it works great for me.

Temp925407062502290 · July 2011

I have worked from home before and after kids. With no kids it is heaven. You can do laundry or quick runs to the store on your lunch break. Not take a shower until you want too. It is nice.

With kids it is the hardest thing EVER. Hardest job I have ever done. BUt I have to do what I need to do to put food on the table and carry insurance.

That.Just.Happened · July 2011

I WFH for the most part: I'm a realtor, and as long as I am not physically with clients, I can do all my work from home. It has been great in that we have not had to put E into daycare. But it is really tough to get all my work done with her home with me. Ideally I would love to put her into a morning program 3 days a week so I could have a concerted 4-5 hours every day to get my work done. It sounds like you already have a setup like that, which is great.

WFH is great in that you can work on your couch, in your PJs, with no shower if you want. On the flip-side, it is really tough to stop working since you essentially live in your office. And it is also easy to get distracted with other things (like laundry, cleaning, running errands, etc) when you are supposed to be working. I have found the best situation is when you have an actual office in your house, where you can go and shut the door and concentrate. Then at the end of the day, you can turn off the computer and leave the room and be done. And the other spouse needs to understand that just because you are at home, it doesn't mean you have extra time to be doing things like chores, errands, etc. - you are WORKING.

I think if you can separate your work and your home life, it is a great situation and does allow for a lot more flexibility!

emowens · July 2011

AugustaBride04:
I have worked from home for 3 years now FT and love it. I would not have it any other way. My particular group is unique in that we are based all over the country. So we are setup to work remote long distances. I love that I have no commute and a flexible schedule. I love that I get to spend more time with with my kids. I will say that I make a concerted effort to reach out to my coworkers and colleagues to chit chat and to keep that social connection. You can feel isolated at times, but if you make the effort it helps. I will say I feel I am much more productive working at home and enjoy being away from the office politics. With that said I am very proactive and have a lists of tasks to complete each day. I hold tons of conference calls and keep everyone updated and in the loop. I am more prone to do work after hours if needed bc of the easy access, bur that is recognized by my boss. I go in the office maybe every other month or so for 1 -3 days for meetings/ training etc. I truly love it and it works great for me.

This is basically my response. I've worked for the same company almost 15 years. The last 4.5 years I've been on a project where I've been working from home (basically when I returned from mat leave after having my DD). At first it was tough, I felt really isolated and lonely. Today, i canNOT imagine working any other way. I feel my company gets a lot more work out of me AND I get a lot more flexibility during my work day. I could not work with any kids at home though, both have always been in daycare/school full time. Not only would my company not allow it, but I can not work with them at home (no matter how young or how old they are).

Cons from my perspective: I rarely get dressed up anymore, I'm in mommy/casual wear pretty much 24X7 (and yes I have on a occassion gone to drop the kids off at school in my PJs to be honest). I rarely wear makeup daily. Sometimes I eat/snack more than I ever would in an office...Sometimes I don't eat all day because work is too busy/hectic.

Pros from my perspective: I have a more flexible schedule. I take the kids to school and pick them up (sorta) whenever I want. I can go to a special school event/lunch if I need too. I can take them to drs apt, within reason, when I want to. I sometimes go grocery shopping at 7:30 am after dropping the kids off at school and before anyone is at work yet. I have zero commute and no stress from traffic. I focus more on work during work hours. The house is QUITE (i really really love this) - even my office isn't as quite as my house. I work for the 1-2 hours that I would be in the car.

My advice to you, if you have an existing group of friends that you will remain social with, then I wouldn't worry so much about the social aspect of work. You will talk to people on the phone/email/instant message with work and you will still be social with your friends. If you will rely on work to be your social network (which i totally did when I first started working with my company...but since that's been a long time it doesn't matter anymore) then you might have issues with the lack of socialization.

Bottom line for me/my family...if I couldn't work from home, I wouldn't be working. Sorry it's so long ;-)

missmlp · July 2011

I work from home on Tuesday and Fridays and LOVE IT. My family and work life have really balanced out because of it. I run errands and grocery shop during my lunch break. My house stays a lot cleaner and laundry is always done and put up before I pick up the kids on Friday. It also gives me that "me time" that I need to rejuvenate myself to be ready for my two little ones. I'm also able to schedule appointments those days which is better than commuting back home from downtown and I also get to participate in events at the kids school because I'm just around the corner. My whole family benefits from me working at home.

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