HawthorneVillager.com

I think balance is something we all struggle with but really, if you work I don't think there is ever a full balance between work and home, you do the best you can and home time has to be quality time especially when you have kids. I work in toronto and the commute alone is hard, I have decided to go down to 4 days a week as my daughter is only 3 so that gives me one more full day with her which I think will help a lot, pay cut yes but worth every penny lost!

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Thistle Bay

This really depends on what kind of business you have. If everything is reliant on you being there, you supervising things, you having to talk to clients... yes, it's just another job. You want to set up your business so that you don't have to be in charge of every little thing - basically you want it so that monkeys are capable of running it for you.

I've heard good things about handheld showerheads being a good time saver lol

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My thinking is that I will save 3 hrs a day commuting and use that time for something I enjoy.

It's actually not unrealistic at all. Tons of corporate full time 'desk jobs' are now 100% work-from-home positions. No change in hours, responsibility, or anything else, with zero commute.

I agree with your points on the myth of running a home business, but I don't think that's what the OP is looking for here.

There are loads of people doing it

I've worked for big tech companies and big banks. Depending on what department you're in, they all allow it. I've done it myself, and worked with many others who have as well. companies have shut down entire buildings since they've moved operations off-site, and to smaller buildings, and continually send more and more people home.
OR start a home business installing shower heads... lol

Our company is similar. They've recently introduced a "mobile workforce" policy and feel that within the next 10-20 years, they will have limited choices -- pay their employees double their salary so they can afford to live within a close radius of work -- or don't, but let them work from home 1-5 days a week.

It only makes sense. Fixes the house pricing issue, fixes the environmental issues, energy costs, road repairs, traffic, depression, etc.

I come to work every day (Toronto), sit in front of a computer connected to the corp network, internet. Answer my VoIP phone. Have meetings over video conference, audio conference etc. then struggle through the commute back. My job would be at least 2-3 days Work from Home if the "old school" mentality of "you aren't working unless you are at your desk" was gone. Hopefully the new policy fixes that -- it's focued on measurable results vs. time at your desk.



At least then you've have a very satisfying job with many many happy customers!

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Hahaha exactly! I think the next generation coming up in the workforce now (the early 20s) is going to change things. They are starting to demand the "Facebook" and "Google" type working environments over the hard core 1800s businesses still trying to force corporate compliance. Now that Facebook is almost the most valued company in the world -- mentalities might change. I hope so..

..and nothing wrong with taking the odd break throughout the day to de-stress! I'm sure it helps boost corporate performance!

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This can be helped if right from the start you set expectations. The most important is to ensure you have a dedicated office with dedicated equipment. Not your family office or computer room or dining room. It should be a room with a door, setup like your workplace with complete computer setup with large monitor, mouse and keyboard (no laptop screens/keyboards), a dedicated phone, printer, office supplies, etc. Well lit area without distractions.

You should then make it a point to get showered and dressed and fed before the workday begins (ok, jogging pants permitted). Enter the office at your start time - login/connect.

Work until your set lunch hour (it should be set so that people in the real office know you are always unavailable at that time), leave the office for lunch, then return after lunch for the rest of the day.

At your set finish time, logout, turn off the lights, close the door behind you and do not re-enter until the next day. Feel free to use your Blackberry as you might normally but you shouldn't be back in that office until the next day.

If the people in your real office know your routine they can have expectations around your availability.

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Ol Skool - agreed.

You also never take a sick day -- you're home. If you feel like garbage and need to crash for a few hrs. so be it, but you're still working that day.

Working from home for so long, I went through all the normal cycles.
At one point, I WAS checking my email (before blackberries were around) before bed every night, then often working for an hour or two to respond to those inquiries so I didn't have to in the morning.
Then it became 1am 2am, and sometimes 4am, until I realized.. I don't HAVE to do this! I can still be a top performer signing off for good at 6pm and leaving things until the morning.

Working from home not only takes discipline and a good work ethic, but also a balance of common sense and actually enjoying your job

All that aside, if you can handle it, I am a solid proponent of this cause

My employer - yes. However it isn't something they promote - ie if one person works at home than everyone else will want to do it as well.

I work the odd day from home (perhaps once every 2 weeks).

Yes in the IT industry you can find a job similiar to the one you are currently working at and do it from home.

Pick up the book "The 4 Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss. Ignore the bull-fighting and cage match stuff. He'll walk you through how to get your employer to "trust" you to work from home.
Your field (IT) is perfect for it.

Yeah, bring the book in with you. Tell your boss you read it and plan on working only 4 hours a week (from home). Sorry, I despise Tim Ferriss.

Yeah, that's why I said "ignore" the salsa dancing and bullfighting.

The concepts in the rest of the book are sound and proven. Make yourself efficient. Test the waters with autonomous projects. Expand the "test" with a few at home days a month. Work up from there.

When your work is "project-results based" it's a very simple process. Especially since other IT (and even the OPs company) offer tele-commuting options already.