Comment Telecommuting from Home (Score 1) 229
I have been doing this for four years now. From my experience I have found the following:
1. You need a seperate room that is the office, and not used for anything else. Period.
2. You need to be disciplined about putting in at least 8 hours a day.
3. Bath, shave, etc. each day as if you are going into the office. You do not have to put on the tie, etc. but at least look respectable enough, in case visitors come to the house.
4. Set limits with the kids. They are not to disturb you during working hours. Period.
5. Always get more work done than the boss would expect you to get done at the office.
6. Use the phone. The phone is your lifeline and a ongoing sales tool to convince the boss of the benefit of your telecommute.
7. Use email religiously. If I am going to take a staggered lunch, say from 11:30 - 12:30 instead of 12:00 to 1:00. I will email everyone I believe needs to know, that I am taking the staggered lunch.
8. Try to participate in any propject conference calls. Use this opportunity to banter with other project members. Be prepared.
9. Get a Cordless phone with a headset and some range. This way if you are away from the room you call a office, you can still answer the phone. This gives the people at the office and customers the sense that you are always available. There is nothing that starts rumors faster than not being able to get ahold of someone who is telecommuting.
10. Get call waiting and call forwarding. This once again gives the caller the sense that you are always available.
11. Remember this is for your and your families benefit. The company percieves they are giving something up (ie control). Show them and your boss that you are not a HR headache.
1. You need a seperate room that is the office, and not used for anything else. Period.
2. You need to be disciplined about putting in at least 8 hours a day.
3. Bath, shave, etc. each day as if you are going into the office. You do not have to put on the tie, etc. but at least look respectable enough, in case visitors come to the house.
4. Set limits with the kids. They are not to disturb you during working hours. Period.
5. Always get more work done than the boss would expect you to get done at the office.
6. Use the phone. The phone is your lifeline and a ongoing sales tool to convince the boss of the benefit of your telecommute.
7. Use email religiously. If I am going to take a staggered lunch, say from 11:30 - 12:30 instead of 12:00 to 1:00. I will email everyone I believe needs to know, that I am taking the staggered lunch.
8. Try to participate in any propject conference calls. Use this opportunity to banter with other project members. Be prepared.
9. Get a Cordless phone with a headset and some range. This way if you are away from the room you call a office, you can still answer the phone. This gives the people at the office and customers the sense that you are always available. There is nothing that starts rumors faster than not being able to get ahold of someone who is telecommuting.
10. Get call waiting and call forwarding. This once again gives the caller the sense that you are always available.
11. Remember this is for your and your families benefit. The company percieves they are giving something up (ie control). Show them and your boss that you are not a HR headache.
