Decades ago when I started my consulting practice, colleagues looked at me with envy, expressing a desire to leave corporate life and “work from home”. They thought it would be easier, more fun, and less stressful. Sounded good in theory but the truth is there are upsides and downsides to that decision.
Today, a compromise appears in the form of a rising trend in telecommuting. According to Global Workplace Analytics, as of January 2016, these are the most current statistics:
Regular work-at-home, among the non-self-employed population, has grown by 103% since 2005.
3.7 million employees (2.8% of the workforce) now work from home at least half the time.
The employee population as a whole grew by 1.9% from 2013 to 2014, while employees who telecommuter population grew 5.6%.
Before you make a move, consider the pros and cons as outlined by Jenny Holt, in the November 2016 issue of New York Jobs. I think you’ll find this article helpful and I've included a couple of paragraphs below.
Working from Home: More Pros than Cons?
There’s nothing like getting up late, not stressing about a commute, and sitting down at your laptop with a big breakfast and no outside distractions to start your day at work right? Well, that seems accurate until you realize you’re in the comfort of your own bed, have access to far too many TVs, and have no fear of a micromanaging boss.
Whether you are a home-based business owner who works from home full-time or someone who decides to work from home occasionally, there are a number of pros and cons to consider before you set up your home office. Maybe you’re a pro at job hunting online and maybe you found what seems like the greatest remote job. Hey, maybe you found a company headquartered in Buffalo but live in Rochester and would find the commute to be tiresome to drive through during rush-hour traffic. Having the option to work remotely full-time sounds like a dream come true, but without the stamina and discipline, it may seem like you’re dedicating more time to doing your laundry and cooking meals than actually working.