Pros and cons

Pros & Cons of becoming a homeworker.

So you have decided to bite the bullet and become a homeworker. At last no more commuting, you can have an extra hour in bed, feed the dog, be at home when the children come home and have a better quality of life - or can you?

There are huge benefits for you and your employer when you become a homeworker. There are also some downsides which you need to consider. The biggest problem is isolation, this is especially bad for people that live alone. Do you really want to spend all day and all evening on your own? Will you be able to switch off or will you always be looking at that last e-mail of the day.

You have to keep in touch with friends and colleagues. Just pick up the phone for a chat or start using instant messaging with your colleagues. These will both help you feel less isolated. Socialise outside of work to build up a network of friends. I would also think seriously about going in to the office every now and then to help keep the relationships alive.

Talk to your family. Make them understand that you are working and that its not okay for them to drop in for a cup of tea. Don't take on things to do when you are working such as errands for the family, would they ask you to do it if you had to drive 50 miles to the office each day?

My final piece of advice is that when you are working at home just work. Don't try and do the baking and washing at the same time. You wouldn't do it if you were at work in an office so don't do it when working from home. Modern working patterns are hard work and you will not be able to balance everything.