Is Working at Home Really for You?Many parents who work outside the home daydream about working at home instead. There would be no time clock to punch, no crazy race on the freeway during rush hour. They wouldn’t have to ask permission for time off for doctor’s appointments or have a supervisor to answer to as to how they are spending each moment of each day. They would be there to see their children get off the bus in the afternoon; they would be able to attend field trips and school plays without taking time off from work. But before making any major decision, it’s always good to weigh the pros and cons. At first glance, it may seem there couldn’t be anything negative about working from home, but here are a few things you may want to consider. Not everyone has the personality needed to leave behind the daily interaction with other adults. Some working parents are happy to have the stimulus of office gossip or even the race of deadlines with others breathing down your neck. Working at home requires the ability to work in isolation. It requires being a self-starter. With no time clock to punch, some people can’t get themselves moving in the morning. They plan to get started after the next cup of coffee or the next talk show, and the next thing they know, the kids are home and demanding help with homework. It may not be the ability to get yourself started that you lack. Do you have the ability to say no to people who will try to lay claim to your time? Neighbors, family, even salespeople, will see you as someone with unlimited time on your hands. You will need to develop the ability to say no and mean it. Another important thing to consider before taking the leap into self-employment is that there are no benefits. Years ago, my husband had his own home improvement business. His day would start early in the morning and we would be doing paperwork together till eleven or twelve at night. He would get calls nights and weekends. I came to understand that being self-employed was another way to say he worked all the time. There were no paid vacations or holidays. There was no company paid health insurance or 401K match from an employer. Benefits are money, and when you decide to quit your job, you’re giving up more than the paycheck. On the other hand, the time you are spending commuting is lost time that you can’t ever have back. You may find that working from home allows you more income potential than the yearly small percentage raise an employer may offer. Typically a 8-5 job doesn’t offer the ability to earn more if you work harder. Working at home definitely offers that potential. Only you can decide whether the pros outweigh the cons. Working at home isn’t for everyone. Think through whether it’s for you before taking the leap.
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