How likely will you telecommute if you have the option to do so?

[JayLotz]

As an IT guy, I could probably telecommute most days, but I haven't pursued the option yet. The company I work for is a little bit old-fashioned, and they haven't completely embraced telecommuting yet. Like others, I'm afraid I would miss the interaction with my coworkers. But with gas now at $4.09 in my part of the country, it's definitely something I'm considering.

[purplefdu]

I would telecommute at the drop of a hat. Since I have two dogs (a puppy and a senior) I'd rather be able to work with them not away from them. Since I work from home now it will be painful to leave them and most likely require puppy daycare depending on what our schedules are to make sure they stay out of trouble.

[Philip Brewer]

Besides the problem that you mention (of your peers and superiors at work beginning to doubt your commitment, if you're never in your cubicle) and the problem of actually finding a good space where you can get work done, there are two other big issues--working too much and working too little.

I tend to be a work-to-little kind of guy (except when I'm doing something that I love, like writing). Being at the office, surrounded by other people being productive, I was more likely to be productive myself. At home, with no one watching, there would always be other stuff I wanted to do more than whatever it was I was supposed to be working on.

Other people are work-too-much guys. They get up and check their email before breakfast, work through the day, check their email again after dinner, and then find themselves still trying to handle emergencies at bedtime. Without a clear separation between workplace and home, its easy to turn your home into your own little sweatshop.

There are people who can find the balance. If you're one of them, go for it. If you're not sure, it's probably worth a try to find out.

[AlmostFrugal]

I would love to be able to telecommute. At the moment I'm on maternity leave, working from home on my blog. In one month I'm going back to school to get my masters in marketing and then I want to find a job where I am not tied to an office every day. Either freelancing or telecommuting or consulting on longterm projects, but please don't tie me to a desk! I've been there and done that.
Like Philip said above, I'm one of those work too much people, but if I'm doing it as a freelancer then I'll have periods with no work, so it will all even out in the end.

[singleguymoney]

My employer just started offering this option a few weeks ago. You have the option of working at home one day a week. I haven't taken advantage of it because I have a hard time keeping my concentration when I am at home. It may help if I take the TV out of my home office.

[blogherfan]

Originally Posted by singleguymoney

It may help if I take the TV out of my home office.

Trust me it won't. I did the same thing but ended up watching a bunch of online videos on Netflix and Hulu. I'm a bad bad mommy.

[Bernadette]

Originally Posted by Philip Brewer

I tend to be a work-to-little kind of guy (except when I'm doing something that I love, like writing).

Other people are work-too-much guys. They get up and check their email before breakfast, work through the day, check their email again after dinner, and then find themselves still trying to handle emergencies at bedtime.

Very good observation! I've been telecommuting for 20 years, since I'm self employed and work at home. In general I love not having to get dressed up, not wasting gas, not putting up with difficult co-workers (or being a difficult co-worker myself).

But what Philip Brewer says is more than true. Sometimes if you're a work-too-little guy, you goof off, then compensate by working nights and weekends to make up for it. Working at home becomes a 24/7 job.

If you have the discipline to actually sit down and work, go for it. If you just telecommute 1-3 days a week but are still seen around the office at other times, I doubt it'll affect your job evaluations. You'll be so productive and so good when you're there you might even get higher marks.

[rabidpotatochip]

I would love to be able to telecommute. At the moment, I just use a VPN to work. Sometimes inspiration hits on the weekend and I feel it's worth the trouble to spend a little more time "at work". It's extremely difficult to create an environment that you want to work in though...

he biggest trick is one I picked up during my student years: set up a routine. Make sure you get up the same time every day, start work (or study) at the same time as usual, get dressed in your work clothes (or have a work outfit) and set aside a part of your house that's for work only. If you feel like you're going to work, even if you never leave your house, it's very motivational. I admit I've never carried a briefcase from the bedroom to the office, but I've never worked in my pajamas either*.

*I might be missing out on that one...

[SouthShoreGirl]

I am working from home today and luvin' it!!

[72Tiger]

I enjoy the office dynamic. One day a week of telecommuting would be okay, but more than that would get old to me. FWIW, they are piloting some telecommute programs at my work, so it may actually happen.