The downside of telecommuting

Telecommuting and working from "home" is all the rage.  I have a number of friends who rarely, if ever leave their homes during their workday.  This is a boon for them and their families, as the commuting time is eliminated.  People who work from home often suffer from fewer interruptions and can tailor their schedule to the other family activities during the day.  Many of these folks don't have an "office" anymore, which has cut down costs and space requirements for many large organizations.

There are, however, several significant downsides to telecommuting.  They are: isolation, time-shifting and absence of grooming.

It takes a special kind of person to work remotely.  Just because your company asks you to do it does not mean that you're cut out for it.  Working from home removes you from the culture and the tides of thought and change that sweep any business, and can quickly find you outside of the mainstream thinking in the business.  Working from home often eliminates the opportunities for chance encounters in the hallway or discussions over your lunch break when many little nuggets of information are conveyed.  Working from home can seem very isolated.  If you think the "drop-bys" at the office are bad, wait until no one drops by when you are at home.  Believe me you'll look forward to the mailman.

Second, there's an issue with time-shifting.  Face it, we are all working more, not less, anyway.  If your home is where your work is, when are you "on the clock" and when are you "off the clock"?  It becomes much more simple to go "back to work" after dinner if you work from home, but fairly soon you can find yourself complete immersed in work, even at home, to the detriment of your life and your family.  It takes a fair amount of discipline to keep the balance between work life and home life when your office is in your house.

Third, there's an issue with grooming.  Not the showering and shaving part, although that sometimes goes by the wayside as well.  I have a friend who works for a very large firm with worldwide operations.  He has reports on several continents.  Several of these people have reported to him for many years.  Three of them he has NEVER met face to face.  While I recognize this is less about telecommuting and more about distance, I cannot understand how people can be effectively evaluated and groomed for new jobs when their co-wokers and managers never interact with them face to face.  So much about getting along with and managing people comes from personal interaction, yet if many of us work from home those skills may atrophy.

So, while your boss may present you with the "opportunity" to work from home, be sure to consider the issues that surrond telecommuting.  It takes a significant amount of discipline to work effectively from home and to stay current with your colleagues.  It takes discipline to manage your work hours and your personal hours and not to conflate the two.  And it will require you to get in front of your co-workers, customers and boss on a somewhat regular basis to ensure your interaction skills don't decline, and that you stay top of mind with them.

Comments

[Katy]

I heartily agree. I moved from working in a small but busy office to telecommuting from home. Gone was the 9-5 (ish) work day and I was working all hours as I just didn't have that "off switch" any more. My only contact with people was via email or telephone, it was a nightmare! As soon as I could I moved companies and made sure I'd have a desk in an office with people in it!

[Matt]

As was stated, it's about discipline. You have to be able to tell coworkers "no". I have found myself much more productive working from home as I'm no longer indundated with interruptions and quite as many less than optimal meetings.

[Russ Krajec]

The phrase "I'm Working From Home" is equivalent to "The Check Is In The Mail".

[Vicki]

You're right about one thing: Telecommuting isn't for everyone or every job. If Telecommuting isn't right for you or you for it, or if it doesn't fit your job, then... it's not right. Period. Can't change that.

But that doesn't make the "downsides" you list downsides for all jobs or all people.

I WANT to be isolated. Time-shifting isn't a problem. Neither is grooming - (a) I still shower and dress for work; b() I don't want to be "groomed" by a manager. Yuch!!

I am, personally, far more productive working from home. No ringing phones, hallway conversations, "bleed" from co-worker's earphones, constant interruptions. No bad lighting, poor air conditioning, crummy ergonomics.

Yes, you need discipline. When you work at home (and I do _work_ at home) it's your product that proves your productivity. I'd much rather be reviewed on my merits than on how many hours my butt was in a chair onsite.

I don't look forward to the mailman any more than I looked forward to the entire company crowding into the break room to chatter on "bagel mornings" at the office.

I have two essays on the subject:
vlb.typepad.com/commentary/2004/09/telecommuting.html
and
http://philtres.com/vlb/offsite.shtml

The last thing I'll say is, if you're lucky enough that your company has ASKED you to telecommute, can I have your job? Usually it's like pulling teeth without anaesthesia to even get management to consider such a notion.