Working from home - Pros and Cons

[Super Nova]

I think working from home is not very productive for the line of work I am in. Innovation and dealing with project issues is about people connecting and working together. I work for a company that is heavy into telecommuting but it feels the people who are not in the office are no-where as productive.

I am yet to be convinced that working from home is effective. Ok, the odd day working from home or 1 day a week is good. Time to catch-up on all that stuff and emails you could not get processed on the other days or to be home when the boiler breaks is great. You can do something productive. We all tend to work from home after hours these days anyway. I tend to be working processign emails to all hours nearly everyday so they get me both ways anyway.

There is no substitute for walking around the office and talking to people to getting things done.

Any experience in PA on the issue. Article below.

If Yahoo and Google think it's crap.... why would it be a good thing for everyone else.

With Yahoo and Google sledging teleworking as slow and detrimental to work quality and creativity, has working from home lost its lustre?

Yahoo's head of human resources Jackie Reses sent out a memo on Friday telling remote staff they must be working in the office by June and if they had an issue they could quit.

Is this the end to what Deloitte said would be one of the biggest structural changes to the Australian labour market this decade?

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/it-pro/busines ... z2LtT4otfG

[Aussie]

I have no source to link...............as is usual.............just my own thoughts. 'Working from home' will increase. Have not read your link.

1. Transport. I don't need to use it. Assists with lots of environmental issues.
2. Office space..............The Boss needs less of it.......saves him money.
3. Make me goal orientated, meaning.....give me a task to complete....a time frame in which I must do it.....and I will. If I don't, you fuck me off.
5. I get to play more golf. ie......I organise that work/life issue better.
6. I get to spend more time with 'family.'
7. I will have to go to "The Office"....as will all the others working from home to have some interaction.
8. I can live on the Sunshine Coast and be working for a Boss.....in Siberia.
9. Bosses in Siberia can harness the intellect of people all over the Planet....without needing them to live in Siberia.

There's probably more I'll think of later.

[Super Nova]

I have no source to link...............as is usual.............just my own thoughts. 'Working from home' will increase. Have not read your link.

1. Transport. I don't need to use it. Assists with lots of environmental issues.

True.

2. Office space..............The Boss needs less of it.......saves him money.

One of the biggest reasons I see that CFOs support working from home. It really does save a truck load of money.

Great for the employee too. Able to claim travelling to work as a tax deductable expense if they are trually workign from home.

3. Make me goal orientated, meaning.....give me a task to complete....a time frame in which I must do it.....and I will. If I don't, you fuck me off.

Everyone should be goal orientated. It really works if you are doing a standalone role that does not require much team work. Being creative that requires interaction with people, even if they are standalone roles like, a software developer, are much more productive if they are sitting together as a team.

5. I get to play more golf. ie......I organise that work/life issue better.

If you can control when you work. Yes. I still think employers say they care about work/life balance but really they don't give a toss. Yo uwill still get called while out playing golf.

6. I get to spend more time with 'family.'

Only if you consider saving the commute. In my expereience having the family at home while trying to work is just near impossible to be really productive for long periods.

7. I will have to go to "The Office"....as will all the others working from home to have some interaction.

Yep and get a tax break on the mileage.

8. I can live on the Sunshine Coast and be working for a Boss.....in Siberia.

True. With modern tools, screen sharing, sharing updates to documents on line, video, conferences ...etc it make it easier than every.

9. Bosses in Siberia can harness the intellect of people all over the Planet....without needing them to live in Siberia.

That's the theory and it does work.

However there may be roles that would be effective from home however I still think that the majority of roles in a company which is a collection of people hopefull working to a common purpose, working from home empoyees are less productive than those that come into the office. The power of really being together as a team is becoming a advandtage. Why the the guys in Silicon Valley build big complexes for their teams. Why not have them all work from home and telecommute. The reason is simple. People need to be with people to innovate to stay ahead.

[Neferti]

Whatever Aussie says he is obviously OLD AGE PENSION age or hanging in there for the so-called "benefits" ..... ditto Monk.

Both would be into scratching a few dollars here and there driving a taxi or whatever. In Aussies case to stay out of range from the Indian Bride who probably runs the show.

Those of us who actually WORK for our dollars or have decided that we do NOT want to be a Millionaire ...... we live very happily .... even though we are "retired".

[Super Nova]

Whatever Aussie says he is obviously OLD AGE PENSION age or hanging in there for the so-called "benefits" ..... ditto Monk.

Both would be into scratching a few dollars here and there driving a taxi or whatever. In Aussies case to stay out of range from the Indian Bride who probably runs the show.

Those of us who actually WORK for our dollars or have decided that we do NOT want to be a Millionaire ...... we live very happily .... even though we are "retired".

I rarely come to Aussie's defence but Aussie owns his own taxi plates and therefore runs a business. I assume he has drivers driving when he is sucking a VB, playing golf or playing here a PA. Earning money in the capitalist manner of employing people to work hard while they brings in the cash while he sits on his arse.

Sounds pretty good to me. I would like that in retirement.

[Neferti]

I guess that it is a matter of opinion. If my hubby was a Taxi Driver I would consider him a failure at Law (or whatever Degree he had).

For an ALP Voter, I presume that driving a taxi is a GOOD JOB ..... does Aussie actually EMPLOY anyone? I think he just drives a Cab since he got kicked out of being a LAWYER in the 1990's.

[Aussie]

Why not have them all work from home and telecommute.

That term..................'telecommute,'..............is meaningless to me. If it means they get on the computer and teleconference, I understand the term. Can be done from home. Do I really need to contend with your smelly armpits, and other personally obnoxious habits......so that we can barnstorm ideas in the same actual room? Is physical interaction necessary. I think not.

Even the Law these days, is being dispensed, via the www.

Wow, eventually, no more Court Houses......no travel by Lawyers....not even "Inns." (There will be a lot of currently very pricey London addresses which will no longer be required for their current use.) They will all be working from home. Heck.....even this dinosaur is doing it right now.

(Oh......I see some other stuff has arrived. I'll post this, and then address (if it is necessary) that stuff.)

[Super Nova]

I guess that it is a matter of opinion. If my hubby was a Taxi Driver I would consider him a failure at Law (or whatever Degree he had).

For an ALP Voter, I presume that driving a taxi is a GOOD JOB ..... does Aussie actually EMPLOY anyone? I think he just drives a Cab since he got kicked out of being a LAWYER in the 1990's.

Ahhh but for an ALP voter we have one that is a capitalist making money from exploiting the working class while sitting on his arse. That is a good thing, that is the point I'm trying to make.

[Neferti]

I guess that it is a matter of opinion. If my hubby was a Taxi Driver I would consider him a failure at Law (or whatever Degree he had).

For an ALP Voter, I presume that driving a taxi is a GOOD JOB ..... does Aussie actually EMPLOY anyone? I think he just drives a Cab since he got kicked out of being a LAWYER in the 1990's.

Ahhh but for an ALP voter we have one that is a capitalist making money from exploiting the working class while sitting on his arse. That is a good thing, that is the point I'm trying to make.

I will vote Liberal.

They do not exploit the working class. The working class exploits itself.

Anyone who votes for the ALP at the next Election should be ashamed for themselves........

[Aussie]

No. I need not respond other than to say..........Naffy, you are a genius..................no doubt about it. Wanna buy a Taxi Licence ('plate') on the Sunshine Coast, Naffy?