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Working from Home
19 March 2020
Working from home
Boris Johnson has suggested that individuals should work from home wherever possible.
However, there has been a notable increase in both individuals electing to do so anyway, and the availability and scope of jobs which are amenable to this.
Communications, software, hardware, and a shift in general attitudes, have resulted in more and more people using their homes as full or part time workplaces.
There appears to be, therefore, a growing number of flexi workers regardless of the coronavirus pandemic.
Combining the office and home and the work/life balance
Many individuals work from home one or two days each week, e.g. using Mondays and/or Fridays to ‘stretch’ the weekend. It is believed via Lloyds Bank (This is Money) figures that as may as 25% of the UK workforce have flexible work arrangements.
This trend clearly has become more popular in the last 5-10 years or so with many claiming it improves the work/life balance. Individuals like the relaxed environment, lack of commute, home facilities being on tap, and being able to help with the school run!
However, are you disciplined enough to achieve the desired workload? Can you ignore the cricket on the TV or the temptation to read a book in the garden on nice sunny days?
On the plus side, the absence of social chatter at the office should increase productivity.
Why the popularity?
You can increase productivity and watch the cricket. Maybe you can also get those household tasks done that you simply can’t get around to at weekends. You might save money on transport costs and child minding. You can be as accessible as you please. If you have all the required equipment at home (including of course a decent shredder), why not try it?
Clearly some jobs require direct contact with customers and working from home simply will not be possible.
However, more and more roles are computer based now, which coupled with higher speed internet and video conferencing really has reduced the need to physically attend an office building.
Employers may offer working from home as an advantage of the role. Less office space may be needed – thereby reducing costs.
A home with an office
Will you sit on the sofa with your laptop, use the dining room table or convert an empty room into an office? Many properties for sale now boast the availability of a home office.
Certainly, a decent office area will help concentration and productivity. A desk, comfortable chair, a couple of plants and some drawers, along with a fresh lick of paint means it can be done in a weekend.
Watch out for I.T. problems though and the odd spot of loneliness!
Personally speaking, I have been working from home since 2014.
I love it!
If you are considering working from home (yourself or perhaps those working for you), the following agreement templates may be of use: