| Is it ok to take naps during the day when you | | | | quantity of your output. |
| telecommute? Some people might think that sleeping | | | | 3. Are you available during the hours that your boss |
| when you're supposed to be working from home is a | | | | and co-workers need to reach you? Barring any |
| sign of a true slacker, but I disagree. | | | | special arrangements you may have worked out, |
| The way I see it, there are three factors you need to | | | | there's probably an average time frame during the |
| consider when you are working. And while these are | | | | weekdays that your team expects you to be around. |
| important wherever you work, I believe they are even | | | | This can vary from industry to industry, company to |
| more significant to take stock of when you work from | | | | company. But in general the hours that you work |
| home: | | | | should roughly coincide with those that your peers |
| | | | work. They need to be able to reach you via an |
| 1. Are you getting your job done? Remember, most | | | | Instant Message (IM) or get a quick response to an |
| salaried employees are being paid to do a job and not | | | | email, most of the time, on a typical day. Otherwise |
| (in theory) paid for a certain number of hours worked. | | | | they'll start to wonder whether you really are working |
| When you're telecommuting, your manager can't | | | | hard in that 'cushy' telecommuting job you've got. |
| measure you as easily by when you 'clock in' and | | | | So long as you take these 3 factors into account, |
| 'clock out' of the office, but needs to rely more on true | | | | using some discretion with how you spend every |
| measures of productivity. Are you accomplishing all the | | | | minute of your day is reasonable. |
| work he gives you in a high quality, and timely, manner? | | | | When people work in the office, they often choose to |
| 2. Are you working close to your expected 8+ hours | | | | take a long lunch with friends, or take a break |
| per day? While in theory, a salaried person is not | | | | mid-afternoon to do a workout, or even spend the first |
| supposed to track his time, we all know the reality that | | | | ½ hour they get into the office reading the news |
| management expects us to put in a full day, | | | | online and attending to some personal tasks. They |
| consistently, every day (barring special circumstances). | | | | may come in a little early or stay a little late to make |
| If you're a super-star, you may be able to get 8 hours | | | | up the time, but these kinds of non-work activities are |
| worth of work done in 4 hours. But even then, your | | | | perfectly acceptable and accepted within our working |
| manager probably expects you'll work the full 8 hours, | | | | culture. |
| do twice what your peers can achieve, and he'll | | | | So why should it be any different at home? Who |
| reward you for it through bonuses, etc. I'm amazed at | | | | cares if you choose to spend your breaks working out |
| how many people I know say they can work twice as | | | | or taking a nap, having lunch with a coworker or sitting |
| fast as the average employee - apparently there are | | | | on the couch with a sandwich watching Oprah, tending |
| a huge number of below -average people out there | | | | to some personal tasks online or starting a load of |
| I've never encountered! Reality check - even if you do | | | | laundry? How you spend your free time is your |
| think you outperform your peers, put in a full day | | | | business, as long as you make sure it truly is your free |
| anyway and let your boss judge the quality, and | | | | time that you're spending! |