by B. B. James

Created on: November 15, 2011   Last Updated: February 14, 2012

Working from home certainly has its charms, and it's been one of the biggest white-collar work trends in the last decade. The ability to avoid a long, frustrating and costly commute, as well as the relative freedom from office politics and time-wasting meetings, has attracted both office workers and bosses alike.

But, as with most things in life, working at home is not as easy as it seems. Home-based work can be isolating, directionless, and very unproductive. It can leave employees disengaged from the office, while also feeling that their office responsibilities are never completely discharged because work is home, and home is work. It can deprive their employers of the valuable interaction of employees around the proverbial water cooler, and it can frustrate workers who are not offered home options. And it can be a logistical complication when group projects require contributions from many parties who are geographically dispersed.

Overcoming the challenges of working at home begins with the worker himself or herself. A person must maintain a certain level of discipline and professional integrity when his or her actions are not easily viewed by bosses and co-workers. Starting work at a regular time and staying on-task are critical having a successful home employment experience. This includes having a designated place to work that is free of distractions and has the proper equipment needed to do the job. At the office, the proper setting is already available. At home, it must be created. In short, setting up in the living room with the television on in the background is not the way to be productive on the job.

The employer must make accommodations, too. Some jobs and some tasks are better suited for working at home than others, and it's up to the employer (as well as the worker) to identify these jobs and find appropriate ways to measure progress. For example, many jobs do not need to be done during "normal" working hours, if they are done by a pre-agreed deadline. The employer should not demand that the worker is working during the 9-to-5 shift if, in fact, that's not necessary. On the other hand, when the employer does need staff to be available, the worker must make himself or herself available.

An employer that finds occasions for home workers to interact with office staff and with other home workers will also be addressing another possible flash-point of working at home: isolation. Shifting from working in an office with people 40-50

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