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PROS AND CONS OF WORKING FROM HOME
With the congestion on Britain’s roads becoming increasingly worse, a creaking public transport system and rising commuting costs, many people are now considering the option of working from home. Initially, this may seem to be a very attractive proposition given that you can be your own boss, keep your own hours and sit in the comfort of your own home whilst working. However, as well as the clear benefits of home working, there are also some, less obvious, drawbacks that you should take into consideration. This article will help you explore the pros and cons of working from home.
Working from home definitely gives you much more independence. You have the freedom to choose when you work and you don’t have to worry about what the office gossip is saying about you. You can dress comfortably and, as long as the work gets done, pretty much do as you please. Flexibility regarding your working hours is a particular advantage for parents, and particularly those with very young children: you simply work the hours that best suit the family routine.
However, working from home, particularly if you are self-employed, will not necessarily yield more time for you. Working from home is not always easy as you won’t have any support structure to help you. You may have to spend time generating clients, taking their telephone calls; and this is before you even start doing any of your work! It is also very easy to be distracted and you will need discipline to stay away from the temptation of time wasting activities!
Working from home can also help save money and, if you are successful in what you do, the opportunity to earn far more than in a “normal” job is definitely there. However, it is important to realise that there is a lot of risk involved and it takes a lot of time, effort, planning and dedication to make a new venture successful. Additionally, you will no longer have a guaranteed salary at the end of every month and, indeed, it may take time for your clients to pay you. It is no surprise that 80% of new businesses in the UK fold within the first year and this is due, mostly, to cash flow problems that can occur, even when a business is otherwise profitable. Also, you will not have any paid holidays, or sick leave so you will need to consider this in your planning.
Working from home will, potentially give you a greater quality of life. Taking a break in the garden on a summer’s morning definitely beats huddling in that grubby old staff canteen. However, working from home can be lonely many people miss the social interaction that occurs naturally in an office, factory or shop. If you are a highly social person, working from home may not be for you.
Whilst it may also be nice to be surrounded by the comforts of your own home, this can be a double edged sword. Working from home means that you never really leave “work”. This can, however, be alleviated by setting aside a definite “work area” in the house such as a spare bedroom, study (or even a loft conversion!).
In short, working from home definitely has a number of benefits, but should not be entered into without serious thought about if it is really for you.
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