Work from home trend is spiraling its way into many companies. The concept is a welcome thing especially for married women who want to balance their lives. Also the growing traffic in the city can be avoided a great deal.

Once upon a time, home was where the office was. Meaning hours spent in the office was more than what was spent at home. But that was pretty long ago. World has changed since then. Work has gone home! For reasons unlimited, a major chunk of professionals just left office one day to set up shop at home. Many working hours later, they are content and successful. A choice they took, for better or for worse. For most people, this shift was out of choice to balance home and work, especially for the women. To avoid the guilt of balancing work and home. So the home-working professionals had flexibility of hours, they could avoid the daily commuting and the pollution that came with it, they found it sometimes more lucrative and they had no stress of deadlines to meet. And for a good number of creative professionals, the home atmosphere was motivating for more reasons than one.

Well-known author and playwright Vijay Nair, who works from home, could not have put it better. In a lighter vein, he says, “Quite honestly it was because I can't live without the idiot box. I need it to be on whenever I am working. I may not be able to see Tulsi or Parvati. But their sobs in the background help me to work and write. Working in an office won't give me this luxury. Home is the best option since I have the undisputed right over the remote control.”

Idiot box for company

Besides the idiot box keeping company, home working professionals can have their cake and eat it too. They have stopped whimpering about being sick and tired of being sick and tired. Just look at the options available. Freelance writing for publications, theatre, medical transcription, direct marketing, telemarketing, real estate, fashion designing, writing articles for websites, working for corporate firms, freelancing, buying/selling selling products, jewellery designing, candle-making, catering... Not to forget painting, teaching, editing and child care. In a nutshell, you convert your hobbies and skills into a business from home.

Mahitha Mohandas, a successful fashion designer has been running a boutique at her home in Palghat for quite sometime. She finds it extremely convenient working from home. With her a long list of clientele, she has created her own niche with her unique designs. So much so that she says, “the customers always comeback and there is a steady flow of in come especially during certain seasons.” Now a reckoned name, she has been an inspiration to others as well. However, she says, there is a flip sidetoo. The customers come, copy designs and start their own boutiques. But don’t they say imitation is the best form of flattery? “But the best thing about working from home is that you don’t have to work under anybody. You can work at your own pace. Although it is a lot of hard work, it is creatively satisfying,” she adds. Researches and debates are going on as to whether working from home could bring in social alienation.

Away from the office environment, there are lots of things that these professionals may miss out. Like being in the company of colleagues, the pleasure of team work etc. Let’s see what Vijay Nair has to say on social alienation, “it would have if I didn't have all these members from the families featuring in soap operas keeping me company. Now I have also made friends with the lawyers from ‘Boston Legal’ and the participants of the singing reality shows. So it’s not all that lonely.” “However, there are times I miss all the office gossip. And getting together with peers and cursing the boss. I also miss office during Diwali when companies give bonus.” Sure, nothing is as missing as theperks during festival seasons.

Says Nandhini, a former graphic designer with Infosys, who now works from home, “social alienation is at the workplace too. In big IT companies, you are still alienated. You are lost in the world of thousands of people. I am part of a theatre group and so, I don’t miss interaction as much.” It’s been few months since she has been working from home. She says, “I was quite tired of long travels and crazy working hours. I am working as a retainer, which means I get paid monthly and not on project basis. I save lot of time, which means I can do other things and make more than what I will otherwise. “Which explains why a big chunk of IT professionals are working out of their office. Procrastination is a malady that is likely to affect home professionals as there are no strict deadlines. Says Nair, “If I am getting paid well for it, I don’t put off any work. I only put off that work that doesn't pay.” That’s one luxury some professionals enjoy definitely. Nandhini looks at it in a more serious way. ”I am in communication and design. You are doing typically what you do in any corporate communication department. In fact, quite a few designers prefer to work from home, as most of the work is e-mail dependent.”

But how lucrative is the profession? Mahitha feels that if you have ideas and if you put it in your creations, you will definitely be a success. “If you are working on project basis, there is certain amount of insecurity, and there is always lack of commitment. If you are good at managing time, you can work for more than one company. I get time to be more creative, think of new play I am directing, etc,” adds Nandhini. Home is comforting but it is necessary to be disciplined, says Nandhini. “I keep working hours as serious time and don’t do anything else. Only after 5.30 pm, I go about doing other activities. You do get more time to go for walks, and take that extra hobby class you always wanted to do,” she says. Ultimately, working at home, like working outside, has its own pros and cons. After all, it is work and not play!

The good part

Author, playwright Vijay Nair: On the good and bad of it all.

• You can go to sleep at any time.
• You don't have a disagreeable creature called ‘Boss’ in your life.
• You can save on formal clothing.
• You get to spend school holidays with your child and take him swimming during summer.
• You can be an understanding spouse when your partner gets back after a bad day at work.
• You can spend hours staring at nothing and no one will question you.

The Aaargh! Part

• Your neighbours look at you with contempt because they think you are living off your wife.
• Your child sometimes asks you-Papa...why don't you go to work like other papas.”
• Your extended family drops in to counsel you for your irresponsibility.
• The maid suspects you of being an alcoholic like her husband.
• You get unsolicited phone calls from head hunters who have been given your number by friends who think you need help in finding a job.
• You put on weight.
• You get a lot of chores to do since everyone thinks you are unemployed.

Advice: Don't go for it unless you are thick-skinned and like Ekta Kapoor soaps!

Source: Deccan Herald