Overworking From Home: Risks Overlooked
Working from home has its advantages. No need to shower, shave or even dress; traffic jams are minimized to dodging laundry in the hallway; and then there’s the Judge Judy break at four.
Yet with such fringe benefits come disadvantages and dangers few employers are taking seriously and few employees understand, such as the stress of working daylong in front of a computer in what could be an ergonomically undesirable setting, injuries from household hazards, expectations of being available around the clock, or working alone without colleague interaction and, dare we imagine, without computer tech support.
Traditional workplaces are constructed with federal regulation and best-business practices in mind. Yet while high fuel prices and fist-clenching traffic are forcing more people to work from home, no rules exist on how to properly create a home office.
Photo by uccrow.
Curt on December 18th, 2008 10:38 am
There are a lot of problems with working from home that are being overlooked right now – as cost cutting seems be to the most important for businesses.
Carolyn Larson on December 19th, 2008 7:28 am
Working from home can be a problem IF you don’t treat your home based business as a business. As long as you remember that you are the CEO of your company and you treat it as such, Remember just because it is a home based business doesn’t mean you never get out of the house, you must advertise and go out to find prospects. Always having leads is the key to making your home based business successful!
Joel Libava on December 19th, 2008 7:32 am
Yes…working from home can save some money!
I have had an office ever since I started in the franchise consulting business. But, not a home office.
That has just changed. I am now setting up my home office, and am ok with it, after some careful thought.
Tough year, but I am able to be an adaptable entrepreneur.
Joel Libava
The Franchise King
Jaclyn on December 19th, 2008 8:46 pm
This is so true. i am a work from home mom. and with all of the daily activities that my fiance now feels i should be able to do lickity split since i stay at home now, it makes it hard. on top of the daily chores, there is raising my 6 month old son who rarely behaves for long so mommy can get lots of work done, and then there’s the constant phone ringing from friend’s and family who feel i should be always’ available to them since i stay at home. i have found that while yes it is rewarding to work from home, it is actually more stressful and harder to work from home then it is in an office environment.
anonymous on December 21st, 2008 10:02 am
“Traditional workplaces are constructed with federal regulation and best-business practices in mind.”
Who believes that?
Some keys to successfully working from home are:
1. Act like you are going to work. ie. Get up, take shower, get dressed, shave, etc.
2. Door closed == I’m at work. Make sure the family knows this.
3. Keep work hours. Except for emergencies, start and stop at preset times.
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