| Many individuals in today’s industries work from | | | | money, just like the employee. An employer can save |
| home. You will find that the benefits of working from | | | | money based on less space needed for their |
| home far out weigh the struggles of having an office | | | | employees, which means a lower rent. They can also |
| job. While you have a bit more flexibility working as a | | | | save money on furniture, facilities maintenance, and |
| freelance writer rather than with an actual company | | | | equipment. When a person works from home, they will |
| that delegates work, the benefits of working from | | | | generally have the computer equipment needed for |
| home are similar. Jobs working from home can include | | | | the position and a phone line. While the company will |
| writing, medical transcription, telecommuting, IT positions, | | | | have to provide the software and perhaps help set up |
| and many more choices. When you consider a job | | | | some of the technology aspects such as |
| from home, you need to look at the advantages and | | | | telecommunication equipment a majority of their |
| the disadvantages. Companies that allow | | | | expenses decrease. |
| telecommuting also have to weigh the advantages | | | | They also receive a financial benefit from not having |
| against the disadvantages. | | | | to provide insurance and other benefits. While most |
| When you first begin working from home, you might | | | | companies find it is more beneficial to still provide these |
| not be sure you can make it successful enough to pay | | | | advantages, not all of them will. A company also |
| the bills. You are not going to work for a company, but | | | | receives a tax advantage for letting employees work |
| for yourself. You need to find people willing to work | | | | from home. Congress is working to pass a bill called |
| with you and still remain your own boss. Surprisingly | | | | the Parent’s Tax Relief Act 2007. This bill |
| enough once you get over being scared it is easy to | | | | provides incentives for employers who support jobs |
| find work to pay the monthly expenses, while making | | | | working from home. The employer can have a tax |
| your own schedule. When you first consider jobs | | | | credit of $2,400 per telecommuter. They can also |
| working from home you need to consider three points: | | | | write off expenses such as computers and |
| can you work from home without the demand of an | | | | broadband access. |
| employer, are you organized enough, and can you | | | | These reasons and others are why businesses are |
| work first to play second? | | | | supporting telecommuters. They also have access to |
| There are positions where you will have a boss, such | | | | a higher number of qualified individuals. For an example, |
| as the telecommuting positions. You will also find that | | | | a California company that would normally pay an |
| there are positions with deadlines that give you more | | | | employee $3000 a month for a job can find someone |
| flexibility. If you are the type of person that works well | | | | in another state or country to do the same job for half |
| when others are there to push you, you are probably | | | | that amount. They can also find a vast resource from |
| not the ideal candidate for jobs working from home. | | | | individuals who have no way to get to work, such as |
| You would be the type of person that needs the | | | | disabled individuals, who have the knowledge, but no |
| hustle and bustle of the workplace as well as other | | | | transportation. |
| individuals to make you productive. On the other hand | | | | Now that you have looked at the bright side of things |
| if you are the self-motivated type of individual you will | | | | for both employees and employers, you should look at |
| do well working from home. | | | | some of the disadvantages. First, for employees, there |
| Even though you are working from home and you | | | | are no benefits, you are risking financial security, and |
| may not know your schedule on a weekly basis, but | | | | you have a wider base of available employers. If you |
| rather on a day-to-day basis, you still need to have | | | | decide not to work for a company, you will not have |
| organization. You need to set up your schedule for the | | | | health benefits, vacation pay, and you could loose a |
| day or week. You will also have to set up boundaries | | | | considerable amount of your income. While you may |
| for family interruptions. You may find that working in | | | | work your way back up to the income, you had |
| the early morning hours or after your family goes to | | | | before or close when you start out you will most likely |
| bed is a great time for you to work and avoid | | | | take a huge pay cut. Sometimes we need to have the |
| interruptions. You may find that setting boundaries is | | | | benefits employers offer and that income. |
| enough during the day. Once you have decided that | | | | You may not be able to take the risk for other |
| you are the right person for the position you have to | | | | reasons besides money. The risks of staying at home |
| then weigh the advantages and the disadvantages of | | | | and not having enough work, of not being able to push |
| jobs working from home. | | | | yourself, and possibly working for an unstable |
| Advantages for both the Employee and Employer: | | | | company or not finding enough customers for your at |
| - Flexible Schedule | | | | home business can be a huge disadvantage. Lastly, |
| - Family Time | | | | the companies have a wider pool to choose from so |
| - No Commute | | | | you may not get a job right away based on your |
| - Personal Freedom | | | | needs. |
| - Financial Benefits | | | | For employers, they will lose the advantage of seeing |
| - Tax Advantages | | | | your work. While they will be getting work from you, |
| - Reduction of Stress | | | | an employer is not seeing you being productive first |
| - Productivity Increase | | | | hand. They may feel they are loosing time |
| - Number of Workers that are available Some of the | | | | management. Lastly, an employer may feel the tax |
| above advantages are self-explanatory like having a | | | | advantages and savings is not enough to provide |
| flexible schedule, reduction of stress, personal freedom, | | | | employees with the resources to work form home. |
| and a reduction on certain expenses. When new | | | | They will also loose control over your schedule. |
| mothers have jobs working from home they find a | | | | With jobs working from home you may not see the |
| flexible schedule that allows them to get the sleep | | | | disadvantages of employers as a great obstacle |
| they need to be productive and still spend time with | | | | when you compare them to the advantages. As an |
| their infant. There are also other advantages for | | | | employee, you can certainly work around the |
| anyone including mothers working from home. When | | | | disadvantages if it means improving your health and |
| you have a home based business, there are tax | | | | having more family time, especially as a new mother. If |
| advantages because you can right off your home | | | | you are going to strike out on your own, you need to |
| expenses as business. In other words, a percentage | | | | have a plan or goals. When you decide to work from |
| of your rent or mortgage payments, depreciation, | | | | home, you set up goals for yourself, which includes |
| property taxes, insurance, utilities, and expenses for | | | | having a well paying position or positions in six months. |
| household repairs or improvements can be deducted. | | | | You also want to continually increase your income |
| Other financial benefits include saving money on gas | | | | over a period of one year. |
| for a commute, car repairs due to road accidents or | | | | Each person is going to be different in his or her goals |
| just general wear and tear on a vehicle. Productivity | | | | and the positions they chose. You may find that it |
| increases as well. We have mentioned that new | | | | takes six months to find a company or person you are |
| mothers get the sleep they need, which helps increase | | | | willing to work for. If you are going to have your own |
| productivity, but you also have to look at the lower | | | | business and secure your own clients, you will probably |
| stress. When workplace politics or the constant | | | | have different goals. You will have the control to set |
| stream of talking and interruptions does not stress you | | | | your own goals and it is important to set reasonable |
| out you tend to have a higher productivity. Being at | | | | goals to achieve. You do not want to start out hoping |
| home allows you to listen to music you prefer or have | | | | for the moon, only to be disappointed. It will take hard |
| complete silence if that is how you work. Time | | | | work and play must come second. One of the |
| management is also a benefit because you can | | | | greatest benefits is when you have succeeded with |
| schedule breaks when you need them to let your mind | | | | your goals and you gain more flexibility in the position |
| rest while still getting the work done. We have looked | | | | you have chosen. The top benefit for jobs working |
| at the advantages from an employee’s | | | | from home is the family time you gain. Your children |
| perspective, now let us look at some of the same | | | | will be able to remember spending quality time that |
| advantages for employers. First employers can save | | | | they need growing up, with you. |