5 Reasons to Work From Home

Approximately 2.8 million of the U.S. population work from home for most of their work week.  This doesn’t include self-employed individuals or unpaid volunteers. It is also estimated that about 34 million people work from home on an occasional basis.

With the internet, smart phones, and plenty of Wi-Fi connections and various locations to choose from, it’s no wonder that working remotely has become so popular. Let’s look at a few of the advantages to working from home.

• No Commute – the average U.S. worker commutes 30 – 45 minutes one way to work. That's the equivalent of five hours or more a week that is lost to commuting. When you combine that with high gas prices, you have a fairly good reason to telecommute.

• Child Care – another major expense for U.S. workers is child care. When you telecommute, you may be able to save money by taking care of your children in the comfort of your home.



• Dress for Success is optional – as long as you don’t need to meet people face to face, no need to bother with makeup, ties, or business suits?
  
  
• No boss or irritating co-workers – working from home gives you the luxury of being in your own world to work and not suffer from an overbearing boss, phone calls, and the latest gossip at the water cooler.  Some people even discover that they're more productive at home because there's fewer interruptions. 
  
  
• Save money on food – you won’t be tempted to stop and get coffee because you were running late.  You can brew it at home for a lot less money. You also won’t be tempted by "Donut Fridays" or lunch outings with co-workers. You can make your own breakfast and/or lunch at home and it will more than likely be healthier and definitely a lot less expensive.

Even though working from home sounds like a dream come true for most, some workers prefer not to be in solitude all day. This can be a serious drawback if you need interaction with others on a regular basis.


What are your thoughts on working from home?  What have you found to be the advantages or disadvantages of working from home?  Please let us know in the comments below.

**Special note - next week we will be starting a three week series on resumes, cover letters, and interview tips.