The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

ClareMary — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:44:54 GMT

I'm a self-employed business owner for the past 19 years, who works out of my home. My husband and I go out in the field to conduct our business, however, we spend a fair amount of time setting up appts. and making calls from home. All of our friends know that we have been self-employed, however, it really galls me when they think we're 'available' to chat just because we are home. It is a real time-waster and I usually mention that 'we're just heading out the door for an appt' so I can end the call and give them the idea that 'hey, we've got a business to operate.' However, my husband will take a social call and chat away w/o mentioning anything, unless we're in the middle of an appt. and then he'll end the call. If anyone has any ideas on how they handle a situation like this, I'm all ears.

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

memyselfampi — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 18:25:14 GMT

I work from home and this is going to sound like I’m exaggerating but I’ve literally been driven almost insane because of the neighbors FREAKING barking dogs. I’m no wuss but day after day, month after month, year after year, the neighbors in three homes behind us have had dogs that bark incessantly. One has a high-pitched yip. Another is a baritone. And another barks non-stop for hours upon hours on end.

I love dogs and realize that they bark. But when they spend the entire day barking at the sky, it drives me nuts. We’ve had hundreds of nights of lost sleep over the years. But I don’t think it’s the dogs fault, it’s the owners. I’ve talked to them, written them letters, called code enforcement, called the police many, many times over the years. The bottom line is that the owners don’t care and we live in a great neighborhood. I guess they think that their dog is more important than the human being who lives in the area and pays taxes.

My last alternative is to take them to court and sue them. That’d be fine if it were just that simple but the courthouse is 45 minutes from here and you don’t just walk in and tell the judge your case and walk out victorious. There’s a hell of a lot of crap to go through beforehand and it would most likely take several attempts before finally having the case heard. And am I supposed to do this of each of the three neighbors???

If I stood out side hollering at the top of my lungs all day, I’d be arrested. But it’s OK for dogs to do it??? For those of you who have dogs, I know you love them and we all think OUR dog is more special in some way than the other guys. It’s not. You need to have respect for your neighbors and shut them up. Man is much higher on the totem pole than dog and you’re a total a-hole if you let your dog disturb the life of your neighbors.

Between the loss of sleep and the constant barking all day, I’ve lost tens of thousands of dollars because I can’t focus on my work.

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

curious7 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:06:36 GMT

Home is seen as safe, and we tend to let our guards down in a safe place. Home is seen as safe even from stress. But, if we really examine this notion we find we need to take in some cases even more precautions at home.

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

Brazil123 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:31:48 GMT

Nothing is better than having a home business and not to have to answer to anyone, I don't care what the hazards are, i am in control of making sure the hazards are not a problem.

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

saturation 101 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:28:40 GMT

Dr. M has posted some rather cogent notes about ergonomics and human factors interfaces in a home office environment...there are countless more to consider, especially in an environment of multitasking as applies today. I found the Radon reference to be largely supercilious, since this Ra in a vapour form is not common nationally, is associated with limestone sub-strata almost in its entirety and is not endemic to a "basement environment". In fact, the sale of "Radon Detection Kits" has become a major scam in the NY Metro area!

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

webwitch6 — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:16:46 GMT

I work from home and I love it. But then, I do not have kids, so that could make a difference. I also loathe video games so I am safe there too! I take two half hour breaks and work 7 hours daily.

I work for myself so I feel I am less likely to cheat my own boss, ME! LOL!

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

CindySue54 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 21:19:23 GMT

Wow, I work from home more days than not and I work....often more hours than I put in when I go to the office!

The biggest advantage for me (I am a QA Analyst for a medical software (internet based) company) is that I don't have the distractions of people around me, people visiting and asking questions, etc. The biggest disadvantage is that I often find I've been working for hours and haven't moved from my seat. I do try to get up and moving frequently, but often find a couple of hours have gone by since I last got up. I do have the TV on most of the time, set to the news, and will sometimes stop to listen to a story, but most of the time it's just background noise.

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

Keith Lurie — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:35:12 GMT

What about the risks of working with other people - the high risk of heart failure attributed to having to deal with idiots at work.

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

Keith Lurie — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 20:33:30 GMT

The best thing about working alone is that you can break when it is the right time. The most unproductive part of office work is having to stop because the clock says so, it completely breaks the momentum, and it takes a while to get back to the head space you were in. (presuming that your work is creative, and requires inspiration that is)

I will take a break when I have reached a point, or completed a task etc, even if it takes 6 hours. If youre inspired, there is no hunger or fatigue, untill you take a break to think about it.

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

Firebird7478 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:38:36 GMT

Geez! What's with all the scare tactics on this site? Articles like this are as bad as the commercials telling you that if you don't take a certain medication, you will die!

This website has so much gloom and doom, I feel like I'm reading Chicken Little.

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

sigrney — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 15:35:27 GMT

I've worked from home for 8 years now. It does have it's perks and disadvantages. The key is balance. One must be disciplined enough to stay on task, but not too focuses on work to the point that you overwork. It is easy to eat too much when you have your own kitchen to raid. I tend to not take breaks. However, it is very nice to pick up the kids, go to a doctor appt, meet the cable installer, etc. when working from home. The commute is a breeze and I sometimes work in my PJ's.

The biggest disadvantage for me is the family tends to forget that you are working. I am expected to do all sorts of things while "at work" such as laundry, run errands, fix dinner, run to the pharmacy, etc. Anyone out there whose spouse or parent works from home....PLEASE do them a huge favor and do your best to pretend they are not even there!! We have to put in our time at work and if we step away to do chores for you, then that means we have to work late!!

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

Sonetto — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:41:41 GMT

I have seen people working for corporations who had poor work habits and violated the terms of their contracts with their employers. They would not likely improve themselves if they worked from home.

I imagine that most good employees who work at home would continue their good work habits and learn to cope with whatever shortcomings working from home may have. Where I have been employed, working from home was a successful experiment which then became a part of the work plan for many employees, especially those whose work involves a great deal of independent effort.

There certainly are shortcomings both to working from home and to working from an office. My opinion is that people must deal with the shortcomings as well as the advantages of either as their situation necessitate. In this day and time, they perhaps may even be happy they have a job to do either at home or one at the office.

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

Heather Marsh — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 13:14:27 GMT

my step son -in -law has found that he is expected to be available for whatever my stepdaughter wants doing.

He does have ergonomic chairs etc but no dedicated space. And it is considered that the kids should not have to absent themselves or their noise simply because his employer has not provided office space. Sometimes I wonder how on earth he earns his pay cheques!

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

Duparc — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 11:54:13 GMT

This practice is also affecting other segments of the populace, like the retired and the lonely, who are spending masses of time on the Net and becoming 'sofa turnips'!

re: The Little Known Risks of Working From Home

gsmith_3 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 10:17:18 GMT

I work at home using the net as my venue of biz. I have to say my desktop does have alot of games and I have watched Judge Judy and People's Court. However, I do make sure to have a good breakfast for my body type. I'll turn on "On Demand" on TV and go to the Fitness channels and pick exercises to do each day. I'm a vegetarian too. I know ouch! I have a very successful business but I have to say I play games during the day. I get up alot. Drink plenty of water. Take my dogs out. I love sitting on our swing for two by our spa outside and get plenty of sun during my breaks. I make sure to take time for myself. My living room consists of gym equipment which I use. I am planning to start walking outside now since the whether is cooler. The Arizona sun can get really hot. The other side of our living room - 3 types of Conga's, 3 guitars, 12 string, electric, classical, 2 keyboards (1 being a Korg Triton Studio), 2 violins (1 electric), and 1 electric mandolin. I play those for relaxing. All in a day's work. I love working at home. I have driven to a job since I was 14 in high school. That's alot of years since. I make more money staying home now than ever before and just having alot of fun. When my kids were home I homeschooled them and worked at home with a biz too. Now they have moved out. I wake up at 9:30 am without an alarm. I talk on the phone with my customers during the day. I only wish I did it sooner!