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I have to admit that, when I worked from home, I ENJOYED going
to work in a dirty t-shirt and boxer shorts. I also enjoyed being
able to work in the comfortable, relaxing environment of my own
home and not having to deal with the rigors of a long commute or
the uncrompromising stuffiness of an office.
In fact, I discovered that I was more productive during the one
or two days that I telecommuted than I was when I was in the friendly
confines of my office, communing with my coworkers.
Of course, there were a few ground rules that had to be established
to make it work.
First, I had to submit a list of work-related tasks that I would
complete while at home and they had to be approved by my editor,
who would always add another task or two.
Second, I would be at my desk --- wearing whatever I deemed appropriate
(and comfortable) at the same time I would have been expected to
show up at the office, be it nine or noon.
Third, I was always available via phone or email during "normal
working hours", except for lunch and an occaisonal bathroom
break. There was no Jerry Springer. No Ricki Lake and definitely
no dog licking at my toes.
But there was the ability to relax; to unwind from the constraints
and rigors of the past few days. I could work while listening to
my favorite CDs or take a break now and then without the fear of
being reprimanded for not being at my desk.
Despite what my frizzy-haired offspring tells you, having the ability
to work from home does not breed a staff of napping, TV-addicted,
unkempt employees. What it does do is create a saner, more emotionally
stable, more productive employee.
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Everyone works from home at one time or another and I'm not against
it. What I take offense to are those that abuse the privilege.
Working from home doesn't mean logging into work and clicking on
Get New Messages every 15 minutes.
To work from home effectively, and to avoid pissing me off, you
should do the following:
- Get dressed and shower before sitting down and starting your
day. You wouldn't go to the office in boxers and a dirty tshirt,
would you?
- Do more than just email. Keep in touch with others like you
normally would if you were in the office.
- Sit in an area that's conducive to working. Don't sit in front
of the TV doing work while watching Jerry Springer. The last thing
you want to do is to type "lesbian" accidentally when
replying to your boss.
- Don't take a nap during lunch or meetings. Even if you do this
while at the office, it just isn't right.
- Put in a full day's worth of work. Being online and contactable
doesn't cut it. If you have an appointment during the day, make
the time up afterwards.
- Only work from home when absolutely neccessary. Furniture delivery
is not a good excuse.
And, while I'm guilty of working from home when necessary, I'll
be the first to admit that there are fewer distractions in the office:
- I don't have the dog licking my toes when I'm at my desk in
the office (unless I bring her with me).
- There's no TV at my desk, so I'm not distracted by "Go
Ricki!" chants.
- My desk isn't nearly as comfortable as my bed, or as inviting.
Don't waste my time or the company's time. Rather than work from
home, don't work at all and take a vacation day. |
