Working from Home or telecommuting can have drawbacks both
for the individual as well as for the company.
Here is a list of the top three drawbacks for individuals:
1. Overwork
If extra hours of work translate into more money, people
have a tendency to overwork. Spending time with the family cannot be reduced to
mere proximity. It requires time spent in family interactions. If working from
home actually means more work, then the very activity that was meant to create
more family time will prevent you from spending more quality time with your
family.
2. Interruptions
Quality work output requires an environment where a worker
won’t be constantly disturbed with concerns not related to his task. Such a
work environment is difficult to obtain in a home setting. It is difficult to
ignore your baby crying or your older kids creating a ruckus in an adjacent
room. Besides, there may be constant interruptions from service providers (mail,
FedEx, home repair).
3. Social Isolation
An office environment naturally lends itself to social
interactions. When working from home, people miss the camaraderie and regular
face-to-face interactions with their peers. Home workers also lose the
opportunity for informal, work related discussions as one might get, for
example, in a staff cafeteria at lunchtime.
When making your decision, take into consideration these and
other drawbacks. Weigh them against the advantages. Once you have weighed the
pros and cons, you will be in a better position to decide whether working from
home will work out for you.
Use the Comments section below to share your tips, views, or
experiences with other dads.