Does Working From Home Really Work?

Recently, President and CEO of Yahoo!, Marissa Mayer, announced that as of June, Yahoo! employees can no longer work from home. The internet has been abuzz ever since. There’s been speculation on whether it’s hypocritical of her to deny employees the option to work from home and care for their children when she recently had a nursery installed  next to her office. Others have discussed the wisdom of such a move, wondering whether it will lead to a brain drain of the most creative people in the company. Some think it will prove to be just the shake-up that the struggling tech company needs.

These points are valid, but they all circle around the main question: Does working from home make sense? Does it actually work for both employee and employer?

Working From Home: A Growing Trend

Working from home is different from working at home. The latter worker is often self-employed, while the former usually telecommutes to a job that would otherwise be done in an office. According to TeleworkResearchNetwork.com , the number of people telecommuting (working primarily from home) rose from 1,468,084 in 2005 to 2,284,006 in 2010 – a staggering 55.6% increase in just 5 years. The number of people who work from home less frequently, say one day a week or one day a month, is ten-fold higher.

Improvement in technology over the past few decades has been instrumental in the increase of telecommuters. Multi-function smartphones, affordable computers, fast internet connections, improved video technology, and cloud-based computing would have seemed impossibly futuristic in 1990, but are now commonplace.

To Telecommute or Not to Telecommute?

It’s easy to see the appeal of working from home. Gone are the daily commute, the cubicle claustrophobia, and the inescapable conversations with the office bore. For primary caregivers looking after children, elderly parents, or other relatives, working from home may be the only feasible option. From the employer’s point of view, telecommuting has many benefits, including reduced attrition, increased worker productivity, and lower operating costs.

But fantasies of 3-hour lunches and midday massages are far-fetched. Many employees working from home are expected to be working – and reachable – during regular office hours. And the impact of working alone can be detrimental. Lack of face-to-face time with the boss may lead to career setbacks, and lack of social interaction with coworkers can lead to depression. For the employer, more telecommuting may mean reduced innovation and a weaker corporate culture.

Make Working from Home Work – For Everyone

If you are already telecommuting, or are thinking of making the switch, get into some good habits. It doesn’t take much to avoid mistakes and keep your boss, your coworkers, and yourself happy. Try these simple tips to telecommute successfully:

1. Get dressed and ready for the day. Yes, you can work in your pajamas, but when you dress like you’re going to a meeting, you signal to your brain that you’re ready to work.
2. Keep your desk clean and optimized for work. Would it pass inspection if your supervisor suddenly showed up at your house? Even if all you have is a tiny area for your desk and chair, keep your work environment looking professional.
3. Keep in touch with your coworkers. You’ll keep a connection to the company and have someone to bounce ideas off of.
4. Check in with your supervisor regularly. For many telecommuting jobs, this is a requirement. Checking in lets your supervisor know what you have accomplished or are planning to accomplish that day, and it gives you a chance to ask questions.

Telecommuting is Here to Stay

Working from home is a popular choice for both employer and employee and is not going away any time soon, but there are some difficulties associated with it. Is Mayer on the right track? Will her bold move at Yahoo! spark a new trend to bring workers back to the office? Only time will tell.