Five Telecommuting Myths Revealed
© Leslie Truex
Keep your children with you!
Avoid hassles of hectic mornings and commutes!
Doesn't that sound great? Is one of the above reasons why you want to work at home? There is no doubt that working at home offers some great advantages. For many people telecommuting allows them to have the flexibility to set their own hours, avoid commuting, and be available to their children. But these are not givens. Telecommuting is not without its problems and not all telecommuting programs allow the perks mentioned in the list above. Below are some common misconceptions about telecommuting.
1. The telecommuting life has no hassles. If only that were true! Telecommuting may solve some hassles such as the hectic mornings getting ready for work or commuting. On the other hand, it can create new hassles such as crashing computers, nosey neighbors who don't understand you are working, a lack of boundaries between private life and work life, and employers who think you can work anytime of day since you live at your office. It's important to take a good look at the ramifications of working at home before jumping in expecting the perfect work situation.
2. In telecommuting you don't have to deal with colleagues or office politics. This actually can be true, but if you cut yourself off from the office you will likely cut yourself off from your job as well. Regular contact with the office is a must not only to insure you are working on projects that you need to work on, but also to keep your employer and others aware of the progress you have made. Out of sight out of mind is no truer than in telecommuting. Help your office support your telecommuting situation by keeping in touch. You should also make plans to stop in the office and to attend office meetings and events.
3. Telecommuting eliminates the need for childcare. Some telecommuters are able to work at home while the children are there, but working and parenting are difficult to manage simultaneously. Further, many employers will want to know about your child care arrangements before letting you work at home.
4. You can work whenever you want for however long you want. Telecommuting may offer you a flexible schedule but this is not necessarily so. Many companies will want you to continue to work normal business hours. Some telecommuting positions such as customer service or telemarketing may require you to work evenings or weekends.
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