Web-workers isolation is a well known problem, and triggered a lively discussion @ Web Worker Daily: this post deals with feelings I have started to feel myself since I decided to dive into the GSoC madness.
Working at home is not always a piece of cake as it may seem, and a lot of pitfalls are around the corner.
Just to name a few:
- Overworking: after all you live, eat, sleep, wash, cook, chat, talk, read, whatever-else, in your working place. It is harder to say “I stop here, will get back to this tomorrow” when you have no office to leave, and it is even harder if (and I believe this is often the case) most of your social or not work-related activities require you to stay in front of your computer. Michael Stal wrote a good post about work-life balance.
- Procrastinating: even if you have a supervisor, you are your own boss when you’re at home. It takes a lot of self-discipline not to slip into the “I-will-do-this-after-the-coffee-break” syndrome.
- Dress code: it might be hard to get used to such an “unconventional work style”: usually you don’t go to meetings wearing the “Q-Club” t-shirt you bought last summer in Ios. Even if more comfortable than a business suite, it relates much to the first point, that is: am I in “beer-and-football” mode or am I still working? To me, this has important psychological implications.
- Isolation: mostly, what you lack is social interaction. Just chatting or being on the phone is not enough, and the man working at the grocery’s hardly would share your interests. I usually get out at night, but working 5 to 8 hours with little or no human interaction is tough. That’s home-workers biggest complain in my eyes, and the hardest to get rid of since it’s an intrinsic factor of the job.
I definitely like this topic, will keep an eye on WebWorkerDaily’s post discussion…
One Comment
Each of the topics on work at home is quiet interesting. If you are a work at home employee it would look fascinating from the outside. Getting up and going to the office, just the drive would make work at home an excellent option.
What I have noticed is the lack of productivity when the at home workers come in for meetings or equipment issues (this is a callcenter/phone rep). Time is spent with workers walking from desk to desk finding out what has transpired since their last visit to the office. By the time all the hellos are done it is time for lunch, meetings and then of course the long goodbyes. One thing managers should/could do is have some type of virtual meeting (at least monthly) so all communications are not lost with peers and the sense of belonging is still there.
Although there are check points in the system to monitor production, sometimes things can’t be monitored and it slips through the system. Yet, is fair to watch their every move when there are in office workers who slack off as well?
Dress code is not a big deal when you are at home, but when you have to come to the office, remember you are on your way to the office and not to the store or park. Invest in some business causal attire from time to time. You are still an employee, if a simple dress code is over looked, as a company they may also view this as a lack of better judgment.
Whatever time you spend working on company business should be compensated for it. You should not have to overwork or go an extra mile when you have done your best/fair share. Balance your day don’t feel guilty at quitting time, it will be there in the morning.
Now on the flip side of it, if you are suppose to have childcare arrangements when you are working, don’t take advantage of the system and think you are a stay at home mom/dad, be ethical.
I really like the idea that some companies are able to offer the option of working at home, but it is also their responsibility to make sure that all of their staffs needs are met just as they would provide for their house staff.
We have to remember that nine times out of ten that working at home is a personal choice. And that as an employee one has to be mindful of it and plan an evening/day a week for human contact.