The Joy and Agony of Telecommuting

Telecommuting : The practice of working at home and communicating with your fellow workers through the phone, typically with a computer and modem. Telecommuting saves the employee getting to and from work and saves the employer from supplying support services such as heating and cleaning, but it can also deprive the worker of social contact and support. (1995-01-05) Definition by: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2003 Denis Howe



Telecommuting : To work at home by the use of an electronic linkup with a central office. Definition by: Merriam-Webster Online

How many of you dream of working in the comfort of your home? I'm among the lucky few in the country whose company practices telecommuting. It has not been that easy explaining what I do to my friends though. The first time they heard I'm working at home, their first question would be whether I'm doing tele marketing or worse, spamming other people's mailboxes with unwanted advertisements. I'm also not doing freelancing work. I'm working for an IT company doing real business with real projects and get paid a monthly salary. Communication is done mainly through the phone and email, and also there's the weekly discussion where we have to meet in the office. I still have to go and see the clients for demo, training and consultancy at times.



Working at home has its joy and agony if I may say.



There's no streamyx in my area yet so it can be quite painful when downloading large files. I also have to put my feet down to get the space I need sometimes. If I'm not careful, I'll feel like I'm working 24-7.



First is a telephone rule. No calls after 10 p.m. and during weekends. My boss argues that since we didn't see each other that much, he wants to be able to communicate any time he needs to discuss something. My argument is, even though we didn't see each other that much, I still put in 9-5 everyday unless I can't help it. Luckily, my logic prevails. And my conscience dictates that I replace the amount of time I was away from work on personal matter unless I'm taking leave. Anyway, the general rule is to complete the work before the deadline, no matter how we manage our time. Discipline is the key.



We must also ensure our family members know that even though we're at home, we have to work. I can't go to the supermarket or anywhere at their whims and fancy. Its a bit difficult at first but after sometime, they know when its working time.



Sometimes it is quite difficult when you have to run some errands, which can be done over lunch hour for most people like paying bills, or buy one little thing from the supermarket when you're already so comfortable at home. So lazy to dressed up and go out even if its a short distance and only for a short while. I normally save that to the time when I really have to go out. And thank God for Maybank2u too.



It can get lonely working alone sometimes. Luckily we have the at least once a week internal meeting/discussion aside from going to the client's place. It can also get very hectic. Sometimes I've to work from morning up to midnight with only few short breaks for meal and prayer in between. And sometimes I have to go out for meetings or training almost every day of the week too. When things slowed down a bit, I'll have shorter working hours then. You have to be ready to give some and take some in this case. The job is definitely not suitable for people who are very particular and calculative. And I don't claim for mileage if the client's place is in a reasonable distance since I don't have to go out everyday.



Some advice on telecommuting is to have a special room set aside for work. That way it will be easier to leave the work or end the office hour. My office is in my bedroom. Luckily I don't have any trouble blocking out work when I want to and the bed is not a big temptation too. Sometimes I even forgot to lie down for a while to rest, and occasionally I'd almost forgot lunch too until mom reminds me to stop for one.



The good thing is since I stayed quite far from civilization [Read: There's no streamyx service in my area]; I really save up on petrol and car service, and less strain due to the traffic too. I have the experience of going to work everyday for about 2 years (while staying so far) and the mileage hits 5000 km in every 2 months and I only work a 5-day week then. Can you imagine that!



And working at home means I can do the laundry while working, take a break to hang them and again take a break to collect the clothes if it rains. I can also go back to sleep after prayer and wake up at 8.30 to start working at 9 and take a late bath if I want too. When there is no tight deadline, I can take a break to watch Oprah in the afternoon while having home-cooked lunch and shorter working hours :) I also don't have to think of what to wear to office everyday. Isn't that nice?



I can never imagine having to go to office everyday now. So in terms of loyalty, I'm stuck with the company unless there are other companies offering similar deals. In terms of job satisfaction, yes the job satisfaction is there with every completed project and every technical challenge faced in our work. My satisfaction is in doing a good job and not to be seen doing a good job, be seen with branded and brand new whatever... so I'm quite OK there.



I wonder sometimes whether there are any other companies practising telecommuting in Malaysia? If there is, what kind of business are they in. Do you know anyone who is in one? Are you one? What is your experience?



Related Article: What is telecommuting: is it for you?