Round-up: Where Home and Office Collide

How – and where – we work is changing. I’m sure many Out of Office readers know people who work from a “home office,” which I’ve learned can be anything from a clearing on the kitchen table to the local Wi-Fi hotspot. You might even be a home-office-based worker yourself!

I know professionals who work in their pajamas, take their dogs for walks during lunch hour and have no problems getting through rush hour traffic to pick up kids from soccer practice or daycare (like one of my best friends). With all of this flexibility, who wouldn’t want to work this way?! For some, it’s ideal. And for others like me, it can be hard to focus on work when there’s so many distractions around the house (e.g., my dog Oreo anxiously placing his toy ball at my feet for a game of catch).

Truthfully, there are a lot of things to weigh when considering the telecommuting work style. I’ve been doing my homework, weighing some of the pros and cons, and wanted to share some of the great resources out there for people who are already taking advantage of a home/mobile office or those who might be looking to start.

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•  Get Your Boss to Let You Work from Home by My Life Scoop gives an excellent overview of key considerations and steps to set up a flexible working arrangement.
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• If you’re a team leader, consider reading Rethinking the Workplace in the 21st Century from The Washington Post’sOn Leadership blog.
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• 20 Essential Tips for Telecommuting Success from Freelance Switch presents a number of handy tips to improve productivity, such as using a timer to stay focused and having a well-organized work space.
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• And, for some laughs, read Network World’s 10 Deep Thoughts of Telecommuters Everywhere by Thomas Wailgum.

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