Hey everyone.  It’s been a while since I’ve posted, and I have no excuse other than I got lazy.  Since my last post many months ago, seems our economy hasn’t improved much. In fact, a trillion dollars seems to roll off our tongues as if it’s just casual talk now.  How sad.   Anyway, the point of today’s post does come under the heading of the downward trend of the economy.  Why do I have to go into the office every day?  It’s such a drag, and here’s why.

Why did I use the word “drag”.  Well, first, physically going into the office is a drag on my time, it’s a drag on my productivity, it’s a drag on my wallet, and it’s a drag on my employer.  Here’s why.  

Time – We trade hours for dollars – period.   Our work environment has changed with the electronic age.  Most of us are hooked up 24/7 to email and cell phones.  I work for an international company and we joke about “the second shift”  – which is the time our HQ office in Asia is open  — 12 hours ahead.  So our second shift is from 9pm-12am – the time we can talk (phone or email) directly to our colleagues in Asia.  Do we really work 9am -5pm anymore.  NO we don’t.

Productivity – When I’m in the office, my productivity tends to wane.  I have meetings to attend (ugh); I have a constant flow of people in/out of my office.  If they would simply state their case and leave, that would be great.  But you have the “lingerers” and the “Chatty Cathy’s” and the “Know it alls”, “I’m taking a little break, I’ll hang out in your office” and the “Let me repeat myself 12 timers”.  I don’t want to be a “bitch” but I have my own work to do….I helped you with your problem, now leave me alone to do my work.  I know they have work to do, so why are they lingering…..well, I think it’s because we are working the “second shift” and we are not robots. We need a little down time - more than just the hour for lunch or 15min break.  We need the flexibility to niche out our work time — which leads to being more productive.  

Really, think about it.  Those of you that go into an office for 8 hours a day, are you really working a full 8 hours between 9am to 5pm.  NO, you are not.   You tend to have 2-4 hours of real work productivity — the rest of the time is receiving and returning phone calls, meetings (that have no productivity value), chit chat at the water cooler or non-work related email, checking your personal email, paying your bills,  or just wandering around talking to people, etc.  

When I work virtual, my day tends to go like this:   I sleep until 8am (an extra hour of sleep for me).  I shower and change into comfortable clothes (sweat pants and t-shirt).  I make coffee and make a bagel.  By 9am, I’m sitting at my desk in front of my computer — begin the work day.    For the next 3-4 hours I’m very productive — answering emails, creating emails with pertinent work info; answering phone, returning calls, etc.  By 12:30 or 1pm, I’m hungry and go for lunch.  I walk away from the “work area”.  I eat lunch, take the dog outside, maybe run to the post office or dry cleaners.  By 2:30 or 3pm, I go back to work.  Yes, I’ve taken almost 2 hrs for lunch, but let’s face it, I wasn’t going to be productive.  I carry my cell phone, so I do answer it during this time.   Around 3pm I go back to work — and this last until around 5pm or 6pm.  At 6pm I cut it off.  6pm-10pm is FAMILY TIME.  No cell phone answered (unless it’s my boss), no email, no work.  Then around 10pm I boot up the computer and check emails.  I call Asia if needed and finish up the email in my inbox until around 1am (I’m usually sitting in front on the TV, and hubby is on his computer too — sad quality time, but we do chit chat back and forth).  Then I’m off to bed.  It you add up my total productive work hours it’s 4 hours in the morning; 3-4 hours in the afternoon; 3-4 hours in the evening = 10-12 hours.  WOW, my employer getting more productivity from me when I work virtual!!   I can work 10-12 hours a day for 5 days under these virtual conditions and not get burned out.   If I’m forced to go into the office for 8 hours, and then work another 4-5 after hours, I get burned out by Wednesday. 

Drag on my wallet – well let’s face it commuting costs are adding up.  Not just gas, or bus passes, but buying clothes for work, insurance for your car (if you drive), shoes for work, makeup, etc.  If you work from home 2-3 days a week, you can significantly reduce your “work” wardrobe.  Reduce your commuting costs, etc.   Not to mention, your employer has to pay for the electricity usage, coffee, janitorial service etc.  If less employees were coming into the office, they could reduce these costs.

Last thought, if you approach your employer about working virtual, start our with 2-3 days a week.  And you’d better have the following in your speech to them as reasons why it will work and benefit both of you:

1) You need to already have hi-speed Internet service (you pay for this).  If you don’t have a company laptop, be willing to use your own or your desk top.

2) If you have a company cell phone, then it needs to get good reception at your home. 

3) If you have a home phone, make sure that has good long distance service.  I have internet, cable and phone all on one service.  I have unlimited free long distance, so I can use my home phone at no additional costs to me.  I do not ask the company to pay my cable/internet/phone bill — I just write it off on my taxes as unreimbursed work expenses.  Talk to your tax guy about how this works.  Remember, you were already paying your cable/internet/phone bill before going virtual…..

4) If you have dogs or kids at home, make sure you are set up in a quiet room.  YOU MUST REMAIN PROFESSIONAL — you don’t want to be on the phone and have your dog barking or kids screaming in the background. 

5) Always be accessible.  If you take extra time at lunch, then have your cell phone and answer it…remember you are on “company time”.  Make sure you stipulate the hours you will not be available.  I specify 6pm-10pm (except for my boss, but he’s pretty agreeable).  If you don’t work with overseas personnel, then you need to put in more productivity time during normal business hours.

6) Don’t get into bad habits.  Just because you are at home, don’t forget to work.  Working Virtual is a priveledge…so don’t blow it goofing off and not working.  Get into good habits.  Get up and get ready to work (shower, get dressed for the day -same as if you were driving into work).  Set a START time…..

7) If your employer is reluctant, as for a trial period of 30 days.  1-2 days a week….. 

Last but not least, if your company is pushing a “going green” initiatives, then working virtual should definitely be in their plans.   Less cars on the road, less electricity at the office used, etc.

Good luck and try it out.  You’ll like it and be more productive and a happier worker.