FAQ: Family Considerations
Home
General Topics
Implementation
Cost/Benefits
Technology
Facility Needs
Management
Family Impact

7. Telework and Family Life Questions

A. Will a problem arise if my spouse is at home when I'm telecommuting?

The answer could be either yes or no.  Obviously it will differ from one situation to the next, but the answer will let you know if you should continue to telecommute.  If your spouse interferes with your telecommuting, and the interference can't be corrected, you probably shouldn't be telecommuting. The key to most successful telecommuting arrangements is separation.  Telecommuters must let their family members know that when they are working, they are working and they are not to be disturbed unless there is an emergency. As far as a spouse is concerned, a telecommuter should expect their spouse to respect their boundaries.  If these boundaries can't be respected, then a different arrangement should be agreed upon, or the employee should stop telecommuting. [top]

B. I'm afraid I'll work too much if my office is in my home. How do I avoid this temptation?

Unfortunately, this is a common problem. With such easy access to work, many people find they can't put their work away.  Many times in this situation, the physical act of leaving work may help the telecommuter switch gears to leisure time.  Try shutting off your computer, turning off the lights in your office and actually closing the door, and maybe even locking it. This allows the telecommuter to actually quit work, and will also discourage them from easily getting back to work.  Most importantly, establishing a routine will discourage becoming a workaholic.  Stopping and starting work at the same time everyday, taking regular breaks and following through with these routines will be the easiest way to leave work alone, even though it's just down the hallway. [top]

 

C. Do most people gain weight when they begin telecommuting?

While it happens, it wouldn't be accurate to say that it happens to "most" people. It would be accurate to say that it's probably easier to gain weight when you're working at home, but that could also be true at the office. Everyone has a friend who works for a company that stocks it's kitchen for employees.  And everyone knows that the kitchen, when left to the choices of the employees, is stocked with junk food to pass the day a little quicker.  So, it is probably just as easy to gain weight working at an office like this as it is to gain weight working at home.  The key in both situations is self-control and discipline. The employee must learn to concentrate on work, rather than the next trip to the refrigerator, or the store to stock the fridge.  This discipline must then carry over into other distractions that present themselves in the home, such as TV, personal phone calls, housework, etc. It all comes back to selecting the right person to telecommute. A self-motivated, punctual and diligent employee will control avoid the distractions around him/her and focus on the work at hand. An employee who isn't responsible will be easily distracted at home, and at the office as well, and won't be a good candidate for telecommuting. [top]

 

D. Can dependent care and telecommuting be done together?

In almost every situation, the answer is no. This is simply because the employee is thinking about two things all the time. While they are telecommuting, they are also "keeping an eye" on the person they are taking care of.  It just doesn't work. One of the major benefits of telecommuting is the opportunity to work without distractions. If a telecommuter has to take care of a small child or someone who needs constant care, they will not be concentrating solely on work, it's just too hard. The employee's productivity will probably reflect this fact, but it's best to avoid the problem altogether before their work suffers. While it is possible to combine telecommuting and dependent care, it takes an extremely disciplined, honest and hardworking employee, and an almost perfect situation. [top]

 

E. How can I keep track of my children and concentrate on my work when I am telecommuting?

Most likely, you can't.  In almost every situation like this, the telecommuter concentrates on their child more than their work, as any good parent would.  Which is why this combination isn't a good idea.  Just like in a dependent care situation, the telecommuter is always trying to do two things at once.  This means that neither responsibility is receiving the attention it requires. The best alternative is some type of day care, usually outside of the home, but it could work inside the home as well.  There needs to be a separation between work and family-life for both the telecommuter and their family. The telecommuter needs time to concentrate solely on work and their family needs to recognize that the telecommuter shouldn't be bothered when they are working. [top]

 

F. Should my office space at home be viewed as separate from the entire house, or should it be a place where my children and spouse can find me if they need me?

Ideally, the telecommuter would have a situation that could combine both of these. And it can be done, it just takes discipline.  The other members of the telecommuter's family must understand that when they are working, they cannot be disturbed. They must also know that if there is an emergency, the telecommuter is available for help.  The key to this is respect.  The family members must respect the telecommuter's time to work, and the telecommuter must respect the promises they make to their family to quit work when they say they will and be available if their help is needed. [top]

This site and its contents are copyright © 2003 by Midwest Institute for Telecommuting Education, Inc. All rights reserved. MITE - Midwest Institute for Telecommuting Education
1900 Chicago Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55404-1995
Voice (612) 752-8010 * Fax (612) 752-8001 * TTY (612) 752-8019
E-mail: janderson@resource-mn.org * Web Site: www.mite.org