Thursday, April 24, 1997
Pensees of a
Telecommuter
by
TMF Sheard
Working from home is weird.
Don't get me wrong; it's also wonderful, but there's no doubt that it's weird. You've all seen that recent commercial where a young woman takes us through one of her days as a telecommuter. The first time I saw it (and I can't even recall who the commercial is for), I cracked up because it's so close to my life these days.
She e-mails over breakfast. (I'm writing this with my bowl of Fruit Loops next to me). She doesn't shower (neither have I). She has teleconferences and meetings in her pajamas. (I'm in a grubby t-shirt and wrinkled Dockers.)
She works out, does more work, gets tons done, and still doesn't shower. I write, edit, work out (had to buy some machines for that one, otherwise I'd actually have to leave the house), get lots done, and still don't shower.
Finally about 11:00 or noon, I get around to showering. (At some point, even though no one else is offended, I can't take it anymore.) And then I go about the rest of the work day.
Working at home is great for obvious reasons: no commute, no wasting time and money on "work" clothes, privacy, comfort, spending a whole lot more time with my son, the whole package.
Yet it's not perfect. Working at home puts you, almost by definition, out of the loop. You find things out much later than everyone else you work with who's at an office. You don't have the personal interaction with other staff members. There's no one there to chat with if you need a mental diversion or just someone to reinvigorate you if you're low.
There's also a very real danger of never getting away from work because every time you walk by your computer, the temptation to log on and check your e-mail one more time is there. There's no leaving work at the office when the office is in your home. And it's very easy to get cabin fever because there are very few reasons to leave the house anymore. (I still struggle with this one.)
So, would I trade it for a conventional office situation? Not willingly. It's amazing what technology allows us to do now, and there's no doubt it's improved the quality of our lives in many ways. Try to convince your neighbors that you really have a job, though. It's weird, Fool, weird. Is it time to shower yet?
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