No
commuting, no clock-watching boss, peaceful work environment, flexible hours…
Working from home sounds like everyone’s idea of the perfect job. But is it?
See how you measure up to the following homeworking questions. By Nic Paton
1)
Your manager offers you the chance to work full time from home. Do you think
this is:
a) a good idea in principle, but what about
those 11am gossips beside the coffee machine?
b)
a chance to catch up on daytime TV, especially Richard and Judy
c)
an opportunity to work more flexibly as long as suitable legal, technical and
support mechanisms are put in place?
2)
You’re running late on an important project. Do you:
a)
catch up by working late into the night and popping up to the workstation for a
few hours at the weekend?
b)
realise the kitchen urgently needs cleaning, especially the tops of the
cupboards and behind the fridge?
c)
plan out a schedule, speak to your line manager if you suspect there might be
problems, and sort out the most appropriate way forward?
3)
A friend who isn’t working knocks on the door. Do you:
a)
pop down to have a chat and coffee and then go shopping – after all, work can
wait?
b)
ignore it – you never liked her much anyway?
c)
come down and say hello, but make it clear you are working and arrange a more
convenient time for her to come round?
4)
You haven’t spoken to anyone for three days (if you don’t count the cat). Do
you:
a)
hang round the newsagent chatting about the weather while you buy the morning
paper?
b)
start phoning Richard and Judy and radio phone-ins?
c)
speak to your line manager expressing your concerns and arrange to come into
the office on a regular basis, both to discuss work and to catch up with
colleagues?
5)
You wake up feeling feverish and ill. Do you:
a)
struggle up to the workstation feeling miserable – otherwise, they’ll only
think you’re skiving?
b)
go back to sleep, as no one cares what you’re doing anyway?
c)
call in sick just as you would in the office?
Taking
it further: The Planning Inspectorate’s website contains a self-test for
prospective employees to help them assess whether working from home would suit
them. Click
here to try it.
