The View From My Office

Working from home is not the same as eating bon-bons

My Father-in-law called me the other day at 10:30 AM. He wanted me to tell him how much an antique salt shaker was selling for on eBay. He explained he would have called my husband but he was at work. Hello.

Training people to treat your work at home job like a job is a huge challenge. There is an assumption that working from home means you can drop everything to go to the movies or shop eBay at a moments notice. Sure I suppose not answering the phone would be a solution but there is always a chance the call is an emergency. I'm a worst-case scenario kind of girl.

I make a point of talking about my work day to family and friends. I talk about my routine and how I get dressed for work each day and how the dogs and I proceed to my office. The kitchen is off-limits during work hours and I also stay out of my bed room and living room. 

Part of winning the 'yes, I'm really working" challenge is letting everyone know I treat my job as a job and not some sort of professional snow day. 

Work from Home Employee or Independent Contractor

One of the tough decisions facing a person seeking a work from home job is the employee vs. independent contractor decision. Your employer might have made this decision for you long before you decided to work for them.  However it is important for you to be very aware of the good and the bad of both.

At my current position I started as a contractor and eventually transitioned to an employee. I'm fairly confident both my employer and myself would have preferred I stay a contractor forever but unfortunately the laws of the state I am employed in make that a challenge.

Why would I prefer to remain a contractor and fore go the benefits associated with employment? I truly enjoyed knowing I was in charge of my destiny and as a contractor had a lot more control over when and where I worked. Benefits were of little interest to me and the biggest downside to my contractor status was the lack of paid time off.

The tax considerations for an independent contractor are extensive and way beyond my ability to address here. What I can say is it is exceptionally vital to understand the implications and consult with appropriate accountants and or attorneys to be sure you are complying with the law and taking advantage of the tax deductions available to you.

New Work from Home Opportunity

If you are looking for a solid legitimate work at home opportunity, it would be worth your time to check out LiveWork. Developed by the same people behind LiveOps, LiveWork offers opportunities beyond the call center work LiveOps focuses on.  

People looking for work can create a profile and apply for various work available on the site. Businesses can post available work and can scan profiles of workers. This is a great way to dip your toe into self-employment if you are unsure you are ready to make a full-time commitment.