Traditionally the UK’s army of self-employed professionals work longer hours than their permanently employed counterparts, often foregoing bank holidays to meet their clients’ needs.
Yet research published this week suggests non-employing businesses that work from home are sidestepping the long-hours culture associated with ‘going it alone.’
Although US-based, the research by CareerBuilder.com was borne out of universal factors such as how technology, like broadband, is motivating a wider adoption of ‘at-home’ working.
Almost a third of individuals responding to the site said they work from home “‘occasionally,” but exactly how much or how hard they work may concern their clients or employers.
According to those that did work from home, only 14% said it was comparable to a normal working day in the office, as they put in a full eight hours of hard graft.
The majority, however, and clearly the most popular response, admitted a full day allocated to ‘at-home’ working means they would put in no more than three hours of work.
And a quarter of workers emerged as even less industrious, saying they work for no longer than 60 minutes, typically to complete only the bare essentials of their assignment.
When asked what they did all day, that is, when they weren’t actually being ‘at-home workers,’ family and children topped the list of distractions.
Surfing the internet and taking personal calls was the second biggest diversion, followed closely by "vegging out" – whether it was sleeping or watching TV.
Almost 10% cited domestic chores as keeping them from their work, while marginally more said they were distracted by having to run “personal errands.”
Tips on how home-based workers can keep motivated and attack their workloads included; designating a proper workspace, setting out a daily routine, allocating time for a lunch break, and setting aside time for family and personal commitments.
The site told its visitors: “Taking some time to play with your children, eat a snack or walk the dog will not sink the ship. Just keep the breaks to a minimum.”
Jun 1, 2007
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