I am just trying to get this out so all my thoughts aren't jumbled in my head!
Back in march, I went back to work 15 hours per week (mon-wed 5 hrs per day). It's just a casual job and suited me as I was employed just as an extra pair of hands. No real responsibility.
A couple of weeks ago I was asked if I would do more hours as one of the full timers is going on mat leave and they would like me to take over her job. I thought about it and decided against it. It wasn't financially viable given I would lose all FBT and have to pay for extra child care. On top of that, it would mean the 3 days I would work full days would mean I would only see my son for an hour at night. For me, that was the deal breaker.
Yesterday my boss called me in again and this time he asked if I would consider working from home. Hours are flexible and I can do them whenever. I thought I could maybe manage an extra 10 hours per week by doing 2 hours each night. I can start work when DS is in bed and DH has gone to work (he works nights).
At this point, I am struggling to find the downside so thought I would see if anyone else out there has experience working from home, what are the pros and cons? The offer seems a bit too good to be true at the moment. I can still spend heaps of time with DS and we can do our usual activities and I can work to bring in some extra money while he's asleep.
Working from home is a double edged sword.
I think you just need to make boundaries on your time.
Don't let your employer call at any time. ANd make sure that people at home know its your "work" time.
I think overall you should give it a go but just try and keep work in a box if you know what i mean. Mayeb have a "work" place and don't let it spread, also if your DP is around at the time your working could they be responsible for any child rearing needs?
Sounds gerat though, Give it a go!
I reckon PollyA has written it well. It can be hard for other people to pretend you're not their, and ask you to do things 'for just a minute' which ends up making your work time take 4 hours, not 2. You've also got to be disciplined yourself, there are a lot of distractions at home. I know I work better at home than the office if I can turn off my phone, if there's no one else around and I'm focused. Otherwise there can be a lot of distractions - head out to get lunch and wind up doing the dishes, facebook is right there, I'll just have a quick look lol. I've considered it for when I finish my maternity leave, but I honestly don't know how I'd be able to work and not play with my child when they're right there!
On the otherside, there are benefits if you can structure the time how you like. Do work when your DS is asleep, after you've finished what you want to do, maybe more hours one night for less another.
We're allowed flexible work arrangements where I work, but to do that, we have to prove to them that we have a properly set-up work space, they come out and evaluate it.
I've done it as one-off days here and there, with my work laptop (with the connection to the network), my work mobile (work phone directed to mobile). You need to be strict about your time, about your workspace. In saying that, with access available from home, I would (and still do) get up at strange hours of the night and log-in to work to do stuff when I can't sleep, my boss is used to 3am emails from me.
I also used to work from home as a contractor and I had to make myself get up in the morning, get dressed like I was going to work, go out for the paper & coffee and then come home, go into my office and work. I had office hours where people could contact me, either time of that block of time my work mobile was off and nobody work related had my personal mobile. Yes I would be working late into the night when it was quiet, would take my laptop out with me during the day and sit at a coffee shop and work, but I would try not to work more than a 12 hour day.
It can be really hard to motivate yourself.
Your children might have a hard time getting that in your head you're at work when your body is at home which can be frustrating for everyone.
People call at weird hours even if you tell them not to.
It can get a little lonely, you might find that you miss the office.
On the positive side, you can call coffee break and wander off to the cafe whenever you want, enjoy some afternoon delight when the kids are at school/CC and cook dinner during your lunch break.
Motivation is the killer - like Sopdet said you need to get up and get dressed in work clothes so that in your head you're at work.
It can work really well in your situation where there are no distractions, since DS is in bed and DH is at work. Are you going to miss the "you time"? As the others have said, set strict boundaries on when they can call, and also with your family, that now is work time, not to call or expect favours etc etc. I hope it works really well for you.
Definitely give it a go.
The hardest part for me was being motivated, I had a minimum 6 hours a week to do & my plan was to do an hour or so each night but I found it all to easy to leave it & a lot of weekends I ended up doing 4 or 5 hour blocks of work - not in the plan! And working during the day is hard with little ones around.
BUT as you said, there are no extra daycare costs & the fact that I could tailor the hours that I worked to suit my days was great.
I think your suggestion of 10 hours a week is great, manageable to start with & will let you see how it's going to work for you.
It's definitely do-able, infact for me it's the perfect arrangement. I have deadlines with my work, so I don't get distracted as I know I have a lot of work to do and a deadline for it. I manage to work 6 hours a day, all while my DD is sleeping. She has a 2 hour nap in the day and then I work 7 - 11pm after she's gone to bed at night. It works for me as my husband is a chef so we're not missing out on couple time as he works nights.
Does your DS have a nap in the day? If you work while he's sleeping and then maybe an hour at night, it probably would be that bad? Good luck, I hope it all goes well
I find that when I'm motivated, I work harder & better at home. When I'm not motivated, then being in the workplace is better for me. Like Sopdet, I will often log on when I can't sleep, or when I'm really hyped about something I'm doing, DH will come out and tell me that it's 1am and am I finishing up any time soon? But then again, I often get phone calls from him when I'm at work reminding me that it's 9pm and I should get home soon! It's definately worth a trial.
I started working from home for one day each week and I found it really difficult to juggle the kids and work. I ended up working the morning on site (putting the kids in CC), then picked them up just in time for their nap. Then they'd sleep for 3 hrs once we got home - so I could complete my shift at home.
I had a work issued mobile, so the rule was if it was on, I was on .
Depends what kinda of work it is too I think. I tried taking some of my work home when I had my 2nd. I was doing the accounts. But I found it hard to keep the boss in the loop & also manage the calls & chasing up I had to do from home as I didn't have all the records in front of me.
But if you think you can manage the extra load at home then give it a go.
Thank you everyone for your suggestions. It has helped a lot and given me a bit to think about today.
I think I forgot to mention in my OP that I will still be going into the office for the 15 hours that I currently do over 3 days. I've decided I will give it a go if everything falls into place. My boss said he needs to work out a few things and will get back to me. I wont need to start until end of Jan/early Feb so I have plenty of time to organise myself.
On the Thurs/Fri when I am not in the office I can work while DS sleeps (he usually sleeps a 2-3 hour blocks mid afternoon) and the Mon-Wed I could do 2 hours each night. I'm a bit of a night owl anyway, and usually up until midnight so 2 hours of work wont be a stretch. I can do that easily and then relax and have my time afterwards. The main aim will always to have my work/hours done by friday afternoon so it doesn't interfere with our weekends.
The tricky part will be working out the logistics. Working out what tasks are best suited to doing at home, getting my computer/printer sorted. It will all be a bit of trial and error, but I am hoping it works.
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Working from home for your employer
- not in the plan! And working during the day is hard with little ones around.
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