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Since the day the personal computer came into our lives, the hope that we will someday be free from the hassles of traffic jams and office politics has been kept alive and kicking. While most organizations still require the employee to be present in the office, some companies allow workers to maintain a flexible schedule and to work at home under a telecommuting policy.

The phrase "working from home" can mean either of two things: 1) the employee can work full-time and telecommute to work every day, or 2) the worker can take advantage of the numerous web based home business opportunities including virtual jobs, eBay, article writing and promotion, or other work at home employment. Through these means, some people have indeed accomplished their dream of working at home while self employed.

Work at Home Pros

Convenience. No rushing to get to work, fighting bad traffic, and getting stressed in the morning rush. At-home workers can rise at a later time, have a leisurely breakfast in their own kitchen, then go two steps to their home office to work. Lunchtime is convenient as well, and the at-home worker saves money by grabbing something to eat from their refrigerator or pantry.

Global Warming and Pollution Reduction. Taking polluting, greenhouse gas-emitting cars off the road means cleaner air and a potential mitigation of global warming.

Tax Breaks. Small businesses are eligible for a variety of tax breaks on the cost of office supplies, food, telecommunications expenses, electricity used in the home office, and much more.

Less Traffic. With our cities becoming increasingly congested, telecommuting takes cars off the road leading to less accidents and headaches.

Employer Saves Money. Formulating a telecommuting policy saves companies leased floor space, which ultimately translates into increased savings.

Increased Employee Productivity. While bosses may think otherwise, studies have shown that employees are actually more productive working at home. Psychologically speaking, this is because employees are grateful they get to work from home and they tend to "prove" themselves in order to retain their telecommuting benefit.

Work at Home Cons

Self-discipline. Working from home takes some major self-discipline. The at-home worker must find a quiet place to work where he or she can concentrate, free of the distractions of home entertainment, family, and pets.

Sense of isolation. At-home workers can experience a greater sense of loneliness and isolation. The best way to resolve this is to meet with colleagues for lunches and/or return to the office 2-3 days per week to participate in the office camaraderie.

Irregular pay. Many work at home job opportunities such as freelancing are dependent on client payments. Clients may not always pay on time; and work can dry up. This means the worker needs to save for a rainy day when business slows down.

Working at home is a win-win for workers and the environment. However it's not for everyone, and those who choose to work from home need to be cognizant of the negatives as well as the many positives.

Learn more about this author, Daniel J. Gansle.
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