You may have family members or friends who work from home and think “maybe this is something I should try.” However, while you don’t have to sit in traffic or wake up at the crack of dawn, there are drawbacks. Listed below are a few pros and cons regarding working from home to consider before making your decision.
The Attire
One benefit to working from home is that you don’t have to iron a suit, dress or skirt the night before you go to work. You can literally work in your PJs if you so choose. However, if you want to be more productive, it’s best to wear clothing as if you are leaving the home. However, instead of wearing a pair of uncomfortable high heels you can opt to wear office shoes for women that are a bit more user-friendly.
Create Your Own Schedule
One of the true benefits of working from home is the ability to create your own schedule. Unlike most office jobs, where you generally work between the hours of 9 to 5, when you work from home you can change the times as needed. This makes it easier to live life. For example, when scheduling a doctor’s appointment you can make it during the day. The con would be that you do have to put in a set number of hours so that you can make a decent living. So, while you can break up your work day, you will have to work much later in the day as a result.
No Boss Over Your Shoulder
Another perk to working from home is that (usually) you’re the boss, so there won’t be anyone hovering over your shoulder. This is wonderful if you are a self-starter and have an inner drive to complete assignments on time. If, on the other hand, you tend to procrastinate and put things off /until the last minute, working from home may not be ideal.
No Set Salary
Unlike the typical job where you make a set salary each week, when you work from home you can make as much as you want. So long as you’re willing to put in the time, you have the potential to earn more money. This is a great benefit, especially during the holiday season where you need extra money. It’s not all roses though. For instance, if you do freelance writing there will be times when the workload is light or even non-existent.
Paid Benefits
One of the biggest sour points to working from home is that you have no benefits. You won’t have a 401K, bonus or paid vacation provided. You also won’t have health insurance. So, unless your partner has it, this is really something to take into consideration, especially when raising children. You can, however, earn enough to start your own retirement fund and tuck a little bit of money away weekly towards your vacation.
Time Off
When you work a full-time job away from home you often miss family events and holidays. This is especially true when a holiday such as Christmas falls smack in the middle of the week. Being able to take spring vacations while the kids are off from school is challenging. Leaving for two weeks in a row from a small business is not usually possible at all. However, when you work from home, you don’t have to miss visiting relatives on the holidays and you can take your vacation whenever you want.
Separating Yourself from the Environment
Ideally, when you work from home, you will need a room or at least a location away from the traffic of the family. If your children are of school age, you’ll have the home to yourself most weekdays. However, if you have a younger child not ready for preschool, you’ll have to either care for them or hire a babysitter. On days when you need to work longer, loud noises coming from your family or television may also distract you from working.
Working from home can be wonderful if it’s a good fit for you. You can get the kids off to school stress-free, plan outings and enjoy more quality family time. Just make sure to weigh the pros and cons carefully before making a definitive decision.
