Do you remember the Atari game, Pitfall? Great game. The main character, Pitfall Harry, was constantly having to grab jungle vines, cling and swing for dear life to avoid quicksand, crocodiles, and tar pits.
As anyone who does much of their work from home can attest, telecommuting can have plenty of it’s own pitfalls. From family interruptions to poor time management, the modern remote worker has to be wary of the quicksand and tar pits at their own home.
The current economy, combined with advancing technology and increased respect for balance in work and home life, have led to vast increases in remote workers. According to a survey recently released by WorldatWork, a global HR association, 42 percent of U.S. companies now say they have a telework program, up from 30 percent in 2007. In Canada, the percentage jumped from 25 percent to 40 percent.
Author Susan Aston recently posted Four Golden Rules of Success with Telecommuting and Online Jobs:
Rule # 1: Set Out Your Schedule and Stick To It
Don’t pay any attention to those lame television commercials professing that you can sleep until noon, work for an hour or two in the afternoon and still make mega bucks. Working from home is not about working at your leisure. It is about working without travel and overhead expenses. Haphazard, lazy schedules are extremely self-defeating. You cannot regard a telecommuting job as a "goofing off" opportunity. It does give you the flexibility though to work in the evening if you are not at your best in the morning. But whether you are a night lark or a morning bird, draw up your schedule and stick to it. Success will soon follow.
Rule # 2: Designate a Specific Work Area
Don’t try to do your telecommuting work lying in bed with your laptop on your chest. This is a big "no-no" because it really cuts into your ability to be efficient. Instead, you should designate a room or a part of your home as an office. This will provide the cohesion and organization needed to make the workday effective.
Rule # 3: Dress for Success
As with having your workspace properly set up, it is also important not to dress too casually when working form home. Remember, anytime you are too leisurely in your approach , your ability to be efficient will be limited. You don’t have to wear a suit and tie or a power outfit, but you should wear something conducive to a professional approach to your work – you do feel more business like if you are dressed accordingly.
Rule # 4: Make The Most of Tax Deductions
If you are employed on contract as opposed as an employee, be sure to take those special deductions related to working from home. For example, you can deduct a percentage of your rent or mortgage based on the amount of space your work area takes up. Other expense deductions can also add up so be sure to keep detailed records on what you spend related to your work.
Here are a few additional resources to help you recognize and avoid becoming a telecommuting Pitfall Harry.
The Five Most Common Pitfalls of Telecommuting article on The Telecommuter Forum
Pitfalls of Telecommuting article from CareerBuilder on CNN.com
Telecommuting 101 by Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com Editor
Great post Craig, Thanks!