The 5 Most Common Pitfalls of Telecommuting

Telecommuting has become a popular way of doing businesses for both small and large sized companies around the world. The word “telecommute” describes being able to work at home in a flexible work arrangement with your employer; either part time or full time. It can also be an option for those bad weather days to continue working without interruption, or for the day’s that you need to take as a half day. If you are looking to telecommute or are already telecommuting, there are several pitfalls to avoid, so that you can create a mutually beneficial telework relationship with your employer.

Telecommuting can be challenging and is ineffective for many employees. These are the top 5 common pitfalls that employees face when they are telecommuting:

1. Poor Communication

Effective communication is one of the most important factors in any type of telecommuting relationship. When you are working at home, it makes it nearly impossible for an employer to drop in to ask a question, to deliver important company news or to communicate in the break room or the hallway.

Regular communication about your work status, questions, concerns and project clarification will be crucial at developing and maintaining an effective telecommuting relationship with your employer. Ensure that you are available and attentive for any conference calls with your employer and that you respond quickly to any email or voicemail communications. It is also your responsibility to remain in regular contact with your employer about your work progress at all times.

2. Lack of Required Tools

A common mistake when an employee telecommutes is that they do not have the proper equipment to complete their job functions when working at home. When you are working in the office, they have regular access to tools that they need such as computers, printers, supplies, phones and fax machines. When you work from home, you need to ensure that your employer has provided you with all of these resources so that you are able to complete your necessary work without interruption. Be sure to identify all of the tools that you will need to telecommute, and communicate if anything technology breaks, needs to be replaced or if you need anything to your employer. You will have a better clarity of the tools that you will need to effectively work from home after you have had a few weeks of experience.

3. Improper Work Environment

It is up to the employee to ensure that they have set up a proper work environment when they are telecommuting. You need to create a separate work space, free from distractions where you can complete their work. Your work space also needs to be organized, de-cluttered and free of any time wasters. Use organizers, filing cabinets, in boxes and a time management tool to organize your work environment. You need to feel like you are working when you are in your home office. When possible, include all of the required tools to work within the same room when working at home. This will avoid wasted time searching for supplies in another room.

4. Poor Time Management

One of the biggest pitfalls for an employee who is telecommuting is poor time management. Employees are generally excited to work from home and then they have trouble sticking to a daily schedule. Choose times to work that are free from family distractions and maintain consistency with your work schedule. Utilize a time management tool to ensure that you work from home effectively.

5. Distractions

A common pitfall to working from home is a high level of personal distraction. It is imperative that when you work from home, you are able to focus on your work just as you would at the office. Common distractions include knocks at the door, phone calls on your home phone, children, pets and your spouse. An effective solution to minimizing some of these distractions is to set clear expectations with your family about your work space and your work schedule. After you have set these expectations, it is crucial that you adhere to them so that you are not sending mixed messages with your family about your working ground rules. With regards to your home phone, if possible, set it either on mute or on automatic voice mail so that it is not a distraction for you while you are completing your work.

Telecommuting is an effective practice for both employers and employees when it is implemented effectively. Ensure that you are avoiding these common pitfalls in order to create a beneficial and long term telecommuting relationship with your employer.

References:

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