Telecommuting | Home Office Warrior

Telecommuting

Do you tell your clients you work out of a home office? SURVEY SAYS…

Sep 17, 2008

I have been kicking this question around for sometime. I even asked the question on twitter and got a few responses:

@halosecretarial — I do tell my clients I work at home, I’m proud of it!

@norcross — Since the home-based work I do is individual by nature, most people assume I do.

@AprilTara — My clients know I work from home too, but none have ever asked. It doesn’t really come up.

@Zstasiuk — I did not tell clients when I was doing this. I think it is a matter of personal comfort and confidence.

@shedworking — Absolutely always tell them. In fact, I tell them that I can only work from my shed and if not than tough…

In order to get even more input into my little quandary, I put quick survey up which some of you have taken the time to answer. And I want to thank those who participated and voted. Here are the results:

Do you tell your clients you work out of a home office?.jpg

Of those who did vote, two left comments too:

Sparky Firepants — In my line of work (illustration & animation), I think people kind of like the fact that I work from a home studio. I think it puts the business relationship on a more personal level, which I strive for. I rarely meet with my clients in person and have only had one over to my home studio. He has exactly the same setup in his home, so it wasn’t a strange experience for him. They usually don’t ask, but if it comes up, I always tell ‘em like it is. If anyone ever complained, it would be an indication that we wouldn’t be a good fit anyway.

Dobes Vandermeer — Even though we’re selling online accounting software, we’re not ashamed of working at home, we’ve even blogged about it. We hire consultants and coaches who also work from home. Of course, our secure servers are NOT in our home, they are in a 24/7 monitored data center. I think there might be some people who’d think it was weird that customer support is ringing someone’s home line, but transparency and honesty seem to be the way of the future for businesses with integrity, so that the way we go.

The “Somtimes” vote was the one I find the most interesting. My question to these folks, when do you and when don’t you tell a client you work out of a home office?

I have had my office in my home since Janurary, 2005. I have only lost one client because of it. My position has always been, if you have a problem with me working from a home office, I don’t want you as a client anyway. I for one think this is the position we should take too. We should never discount or feel ashamed that we have picked a lifestyle that enables us to work in an environment, our homes, which gives us a commute of a matter of seconds. Which gives me more time to spend with my wife and children. And saves me money on overhead and the hassle of dealing with onsite employees. Finally, we should not apologize ever for making a sound economic decision.

If any of you would like to comment to keep the conversation going on this topic, please do. I would love to get more comments on this topic as it is a “hot button” with many who work from a home office.

Home Based Business, Home Office Warrior, Telecommuting Written By Grant Griffiths Comments (6)

Telecommuting

Vonage Pro℠

Jul 31, 2008

A few days ago, I had the opportunity to be provided information and a demo of the new Vonage Pro℠. I was impressed with what the new service has to offer those of us who work from a home office. So much so, I wanted to provide some information which the staff at Vonage were good enough to provide to me. And just so you know, I am not receiving any money, prizes or free items from Vonage for doing this post.

Vonage Pro features five components that specifically accommodate the lifestyle of “prosumers,” or professional consumers who are comfortage with and understand the benefits of using technology to improve their personal and professional lives.

With Vonage Pro, You are Home…Away from Home

The offering includes a next generation Vonage SoftPhone client, Vonage Companion**, that allows the residential or home office user to access their home number from any desktop or laptop PC connected to a high speed Internet connection, enabling them to communicate as if they are at home.

Incoming calls ring both the customer’s home phone and their Companion, and customers can make outgoing calls on both devices simultaneously — essentially providing a second phone line.
Vonage Companion also offers customer requested features such as selective call block, conference calling, personalized ringtones and call recording.
Customers can use their PC’s built-in microphone and speakers or plug in a headset with microphone to make and receive calls.
Vonage Companion automatically synchronizes with Vonage Contact Center™
Home office users will never miss an important call when away on vacation or on a business trip.

For more information and a description of all the services and cost, you need to visit Vonage.

Telecommuting, VoIP Written By Grant Griffiths Comments (2)

Telecommuting

Telecommuting, Teleworking and going Green

Jun 30, 2008

I am not one to spend a lot of time talking about “going Green” here on Home Office Warrior. To be honest, I think there are some who do the “Green” post and even start “Green” blogs for the sole reason of taking advantage of a popular topic and niche. And please understand, I see no problem with that. In fact, we are in the process of the initial planning phase of our own “Green” blog too.

What really got me to thinking about all of this was a recent article which predicts $7 gas in two years. And what that possibility really means for those commuting to work every single day. My commute takes me a matter of seconds. I only have to walk down the stairs to my basement office. No driving, no paying for gas, no wear and tear on my car. And, for those concerned about the “Green” factor, no carbon signature either.

Why is it that employers are not stepping back and looking at what their employees are facing with the cost gas and commuting to and from work? Is it the fact the employers are not having to pay out of their own pocket for the cost of the commute? Forgot about the politics. Forgot about the “Green” factor. Lets look at the economic impact only. I really think that is key in all of this. If the employers were actually facing first hand the economic consequences of $7.00 gas, they might just see how telecommuting or teleworking would benefit them too.

Let me be one of the first to say, whether employers believe it or not, $7.00 gas, even $4.00 gas will have a significant economic impact on their own pocket books. Just for a moment, lets step back and look at this from an economic view only. Each day the price of gas increases, the employees commuting to and from work see their take home pay decrease. Not that the employers are withholding the cost of gas out of their check each pay period. But, the impact is the same. The employees are having to fill their gas tanks up just as often, but at a higher and higher cost each day. Their actual disposal income is decrease right along with the increase in the cost of commuting.

How does this have an economic consequence on employers you ask. Easy, what is the one BIG distraction most of us have each and every day. Money, right? And if I was driving to and from work each and every day of my work week. Spending god knows how much on gas. And seeing my actual disposal income decrease right along with the increase in the cost of commuting, I would venture to guess I would be very distracted. Not only at home, but at work.

If employees are so distracted about money and having enough to buy those things they need, won’t that affect their productivity? I can not see how it won’t. To that end, the solution is easy as far as I am concerned. While I agree, working from home is not for everyone, nor every employer. However, if your office is made up of mainly those who work from a desk some of the time. Or travel from the office. Why not provide them the option of working from their home? Telecommuting and teleworking just makes sense. No longer will the employee be worried about the cost of gas and in turn be distracted at work and not get their work done. It has already been proven more than once that those workers who work from home actually get just as much or more done. And employees who work from home can work when they are the most productive.

Not only will workers save on the cost of commuting. They will save a huge chunk of their day by not being on the road driving to and from work. How much time is wasted every day by employees having to get their mind around working once they drive to the office in morning rush hour traffic? Telecommuting and/or teleworking would put a stop to that little problem. Again, the home office worker would be more productive as soon as they get to their home office desk and computer.

Employers, stop worrying there are tools for this:

The usual excuse I hear from those who are reluctant to allow their office workers to work from home is, “how do we keep tabs on what they are doing?” Let’s be “frank” for a moment. If you are having to keep tabs on them, fire their sorry asses. I am serious. And then step back and take a look at what you are doing or not doing that causes your employees to not feel like they have a stake in what happens in your company. If you are giving them a reason to give a crap, maybe they just might.

Instead of worrying about keeping tabs on them, give them and yourself the tools to make telecommuting and teleworking work for you business or company. Most workers are worried they won’t be able to keep up on the “water cooler” talk. Workers, take advantage of all the free stuff out there for this. Instant messaging, twitter and other social tools. And employers, set up IM groups and even twitter groups just for your employees to keep up on what is going on at the “water cooler.”

You don’t have to be sitting in the office to have a staff meeting either. However, in my opinion, staff meetings are a complete waste of valuable time anyway. You usually sit around and argue about something or give your worthless opinion about something. But, if you have to do this, use the tools available. ooVoo is a free video chat and video conferencing tool you can use to have a video conference with up to six people. Skype is another free tool you can use to stay connected with home office workers.

No longer can employers and office workers use the excuse there are not the tools available to work from home. And I only named two. There are tons of them. (And I will do a future post on some of the other tools available in the very near future).

Employers, work into telecommuting or teleworking slowly:

If you are worried it won’t work. Try it in phases. Let workers work from home 2 or 3 days a week to start with. You will know if it works and you will know if they are working by the amount of work they get done. Some of the workers will make this work and they will work from home the entire work week. And some will need to come to the office 1 or 2 days a week for whatever reason. However, in the end this is a win-win for the employer and the worker. The worker will save commuting cost and be less distracted with the bottom line issues for their household budget. The employer will find out quickly that the worker will be less distracted, less tired and more productive working from home.

Lets keep the conversation going:

Leave your comments on your own experience working from home for an employer. And leave your comments with the tools you and your employer use to make it work. The comments you leave will be worked into that future post I mentioned above.

Featured, Telecommuting Written By Grant Griffiths Comments (11)

Telecommuting

The Pros and Cons of Working from Home — Revisited

Mar 21, 2008

For many home office warriors, you work at home and work for the same company you worked for before. You telecommute and work as an employee. Technology has opened the door for more companies to allow such an arrangement.

As with anything, there are benefits and there are disadvantages. If you are looking at moving from working at your employers actual location to working from home, Explorer News provided some thoughts to consider:

The benefits:

You’re free to do as you please, more or less.

Your commute is from your bed to your computer.

Unless your boss requires a Web cam, you can be productive in shorts and a funky T-shirt.

The boss doesn’t pop into your office unannounced, unless he or she has remote access to your computer. (My side-note, I would not work for a boss who had access to my computer).

You may get a tax break by writing off your home office area and related business expenses on your annual tax return. (Check with an accountant or tax professional for advice on this matter).

You may get a new computer, office equipment and furniture out of the deal from your employer, or possibly partial compensation for all your business-related expenses.

You get to spend more time at home with your spouse and family or maybe with your roommate and friends.

You can watch TV or listen to music and work at the same time because you won’t be disrupting another office employee. This option may even increase your productivity by improving your mood throughout the day.

The downside:

If you aren’t self-motivated, don’t have proven self-discipline and don’t have the capacity to begin your work on the same schedule as those who commuted to the actual business office, you may have some immediate challenges.

You’re it, all day, every day. There are no co-workers or opportunities for office socialization. If you like your own company all the time, that’s great, but if you thrive on being around others, professional camaraderie and practical joking now and again, this is going to be difficult for you to handle.

If you have a habit of hitting the snooze alarm, you’ll need to buy a clock with only one loud wake-up setting.

You’ll be having lunch alone, with your spouse or whichever friends are available and in the immediate area. And just because you’re at home, that doesn’t mean you get two-hour lunch breaks.

If you’re a slob at home, this habit may spread to your work area as well, and that can detract from not only your creativity but also your home comfort level after business hours.

You’ll meet the new employees at special office parties, and they may think that you’re a new employee.

You are judged and compensated based solely on your productivity. The fact that you work until midnight every night won’t be noticed by the boss. Your diligence will go unnoticed. Only your final product will determine your success or failure.

You can become an over-workaholic or office junkie who’s trapped in a routine that is destined to result in personal burnout.

I sometimes feel like some in the “mainstream” media attempt to come up with these list to discourage people from exploring the “work at home” alternative. While I would agree, working at home is not for everyone. I would also argue no one should dismiss it too quickly.

However, I would agree that you should “take a critical look at your options before jumping” into working from home. Look at all the ups and downs and decide if you fit the mental picture of someone who can make it work. I have been working from my own home office now for just over three years. And quite frankly, I can not see myself ever going back to a “downtown” office.

Home Office, Home Office Warrior, Home Office Worker, Telecommuting Written By Grant Griffiths Comments (1)

Telecommuting

Illegal to have a home office in Beijing?

Mar 13, 2008

How to have a home office in Beijing, is a post on bizCult today. As one of our counterparts in China mentions, “with all its traffic congestion, Beijing should be the perfect place for a home office.” It isn’t, unless you can figure out a way to get around the rules there.

In Beijing, your office must be officially registered with the government. But some property management companies can provide paperwork showing your office to be registered properly at one location, while in actuality, your real working office is somewhere else – like at home, or in any other locale of your choosing.

However, such a “workaround” is not legal. If you are caught, the penalty can be stiff. Ranging from $1,400 to $7,000 in U.S. dollars. The amount of the fine depends on how much time you spend at the “fake office.”

For my own office, I do not have to pay an license fees in my community. Nor do I have to worry about any zoning restrictions, since I don’t meet clients there. However, I am sure some of you have some restrictions and possible fines if you violate zoning restrictions.

If any of you have such restrictions, please leave a comment to this post. I would love to know what some of you face. And by the way, my fellow home office blogging friend over at Shedworking also had a post on this called, where shedworking is illegal…

Home Office, Home Office Warrior, Telecommuting Written By Grant Griffiths Comments (2)