Many people in the world today are seeking out ways to extract themselves from their seemingly endless 9-5 jobs and instead work from home. One way of doing this is to consider doing the job you are doing right now, but doing it at home. Right at this very moment, many people have taken the necessary steps to work at home, quite successfully. The first thing you will need to do is consider if your current employer will allow you to work at home. What that means is first asking yourself a few questions. If you sit in an office all day working on a computer, is there personal communication or interaction required with other workers? Does your current job require you to perform manual labor?
This consideration is a major one. If you perform some sort of manual labor, you likely will not be able to work from within your home. However, if your job consists of office work done with a computer and could be easily performed in any environment with a computer, this could be the choice for you. After you have analyzed the possibility of being able to work at home, the next thing to do is to make a solid plan that you could present to your employer. This plan will require you to "sell" your employer on your idea and present all the benefits that will arise from you taking your "office" home.
For example, one major selling point could be the fact that you could possibly work as an independent contractor. This could be very appealing to your employer. You will be relieving your employer of tax duties and insurance requirements, a great plus in their eyes. You would be ultimately responsible for your own taxes, health insurance, and the like. Again, this could be extremely appealing to any employer; because the change will lift a heavy burden off their shoulders and business. As with any business, it will be your responsibility to keep up with all taxes to the IRS, documenting your times, earnings, deductibles and the like. You will need to create and sign some sort of contract with your employer as well. This would protect the interest of both you and your employer.
If your employer seems a bit hesitant at first, offer a slow integration of the process. For example, you could offer to work at home once per week to show the employer that the idea could work, and then gradually proceed until you are at home full time. Working at home has a great deal of benefits for you as well. You will have the opportunity to set your own hours, or at the very least become a little more flexible with them. If you are the type that works at a better rate when alone, this will allow you that opportunity. For parents, this would allow them to spend more time with their children and less money on childcare. For caretakers of elderly relatives, this will allow them to shoulder a less backbreaking expense for homecare. As you can see, working at home has a good deal of benefit on both sides. This is definitely a path to consider, research, and apply.
Here are a few resources to help you get started:
http://www.transitionhome.org/
http://www.momstoday.com/articles/facts-and-fun-resources/money-at-home-1333/
http://www.momstoday.com/articles/career-matters/want-to-work-from-home-3383/
August 2, 2008
