Pajama Jobs: Is Working from Home for You?

admin | August 30, 2010

Janelle Johnson refuses to get dressed for work.

“I take a shower the night before and then get up and work in sweatpants and socks. It’s more comfortable and besides, I don’t have to worry about impressing anyone,” she says.

Johnson, a legal customer service representative from Perry, Ia., is one of an increasing number of workers who spend at least part of their workweek from the comfort of their own home. In fact, one-in-five workers spend at least part of workweek working from home according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2003 “American Time Use Survey.” Johnson takes calls from a spare bedroom turned office two days each week, and the personal benefits are endless.

“I don’t have to buy my lunch. I can go to the kitchen and make something real quick and watch TV on my lunch break. I can check the mail and I can clean the house on my breaks. I love working from home, and it works because I don’t have the usual distractions of the office,” she says.

As fuel costs continue to punish daily commuters and more home buyers move to suburban areas to capitalize on low interest rates and affordable housing, telecommuting has emerged as an attractive alternative to the nine-to-five office grind. And as technology continues to flourish, what once was limited to the artistic and sales communities is quickly becoming an integral part of any workplace.

Johnson, who works for Des Monies, Ia.-based Arag North America, was able to download her company’s software to her home computer, which shows incoming calls on her screen.

“My phone doesn’t ring when a call comes in, it just pops up on my screen. So I have to watch my computer all day long,” she says.

Employment experts agree that at-home work has infiltrated nearly every industry and has created new opportunities – and challenges – for the modern employee. Getting your company keen on the idea might be the only obstacle, says Bill Redford, general manager of the Niagra Falls, N.Y.-based Independent Homeworkers’ Alliance.

“Some companies seem to be fighting it, but the truth is that employees are more satisfied,” says Redford, whose company helps at-home workers find jobs and learn how to run a successful business from home. Finding a manager who embraces the idea is an important first step, he says. “Make a written proposal outlining the times you’ll be working, what you’ll be doing, where and how you can be reached and your flexibility to come in for meetings,” he says.

Flexibility is what many telecommuters cherish about their jobs, but that doesn’t give you absolute freedom. Paul Edwards, co-author of “Working From Home” (Tarcher, 1999), says that creating your own hours is a benefit, but you need to create a functioning work environment that includes consistent hours and a dedicated space to work – or you’ll soon find your work life taking over your home life.

“When I came downstairs this morning, I left the newspaper and my breakfast upstairs,” he says. “If you have kids, I suggest making a rule: unless there’s blood it has to wait until you come out of your office.” Edwards stresses that not all people are comfortable being segregators of their work and home lives. In fact, a study he did for his book found that 55 percent of telecommuters were integrators and preferred blending the two.

“Whatever way is right for you is fine, but it’s still important to keep an organized office, have specific parts of the home that are your work area and try to keep some regular hours,” says Edwards.

Redford says that what time you work isn’t the major factor. “I’ve met people who work best between 9pm and 3am in their pajamas, and if that works for you, that’s what it’s all about,” he says. Redford says that to be an effective worker you must have an office where you can close the door and eschew personal obligations. “If the phone rings and it’s a personal call, call them back or let the answering machine pick it up.”

Before her legal call commence, Janelle Johnson takes the kids to daycare, turns off the television and puts all of her personal distractions away in order to create a respectable work environment for the customer on the other end of the phone. Paul Edwards says that eliminating these distractions is an important way to make working at home work for both you and the company.

Another important aspect in Edwards’s eyes is to understand why working at home is good for your company. Studies show telecommuting is cheaper for businesses and creates happier employees, but you’ve got to find out what your company needs.

“When people work two days at home, that frees their work computer and desk to share with another employee, which reduces general administration costs,” he says. Edwards also says that many people are more comfortable when they don’t have to deal with office politics, a major nuisance for most workers.

Many telecommuters treat their at-home workdays like any other, including getting showered and dressed.

Communication is key for telecommuters because there will be no hourly updates around the water cooler. Redford suggests remaining in constant contact via e-mail and Instant Messaging.

Both Edwards and Redford agree that many employees suffer from feelings of isolation when cut-off from the office scene. Janelle Johnson is not immune. “Sometimes I feel lonely, but you also have the perks of recent technology, e-mail and Instant Messenger, that can keep you in the office loop,” she says.

“Find a way to break up the solitude and have human contact. Talk on the phone, or if you’re close, scoot in for lunch to keep in touch and get the daily scoop,” says Redford.

About the Author:
Matthew M. F. Miller, author of “Maybe Baby: An Infertile Love Story” (HCI, 2008), is a syndicated fatherhood blogger.