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Do you think more (and more) jobs will be home based in the future?
Given the need to keep overhead down and the proliferation of the web, will most positions be home based in the future? or will the draw of the water cooler be too strong.
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Absolutely yes. There are a lot of reasons, but I will limit myself to a few.
The company overhead is a lot lower. Buildings cost money, and air conditioning costs money and web bandwidth and all those other little things cost money.
It isn't entirely clear employees are more productive at work, as any oversight by bosses is countered by lots of wasted time talking and so on. And, the propensity to throw a three hour meeting is much lower.
An employee can save on average an hour and a half of his day (life) by not commuting. This time can be put to productive use or may be used spending time with his family or whatever he wants. Also, the reduced stress of not having to commute will certainly lead to lower overall job stress.
I actually work (day job) at a company that does this. I get to set my own hours, which is why I'm up so late online, and I get to use my own equipment and I get great latitude in how I work. My employer periodically throws an all-hands meeting at a local restaurant. We have a PBX that allows us to have SIP-based telephones in our homes that have our 'extension'. There's an office with a receptionist and a couple of conference rooms and the server farm.
Since starting work at home, I have managed to quit a three hour a day commute habit, seen my insurance cost go down dramatically on my cars (one car is parked and off the road, the other hardly driven), seen my fuel budget get cut to less than 10% of what it was, and seen my overall productivity rise dramatically. Also, I am 'on call' at any time day or night because the equipment I need to do my job is literally sitting in my pantry.
Despite the fact that I paid for it, I still come out ahead because the money I spent on it is less than the cost of commuting, especially when you add in eating out every day for lunch. Also, in my job, I get to keep all my equipment, since I bought it. I have built myself a seriously powerful linux server as a result.
I have to say that working from home as an IT professional, or, indeed, as any information worker, is certainly the wave of the future.
The company overhead is a lot lower. Buildings cost money, and air conditioning costs money and web bandwidth and all those other little things cost money.
It isn't entirely clear employees are more productive at work, as any oversight by bosses is countered by lots of wasted time talking and so on. And, the propensity to throw a three hour meeting is much lower.
An employee can save on average an hour and a half of his day (life) by not commuting. This time can be put to productive use or may be used spending time with his family or whatever he wants. Also, the reduced stress of not having to commute will certainly lead to lower overall job stress.
I actually work (day job) at a company that does this. I get to set my own hours, which is why I'm up so late online, and I get to use my own equipment and I get great latitude in how I work. My employer periodically throws an all-hands meeting at a local restaurant. We have a PBX that allows us to have SIP-based telephones in our homes that have our 'extension'. There's an office with a receptionist and a couple of conference rooms and the server farm.
Since starting work at home, I have managed to quit a three hour a day commute habit, seen my insurance cost go down dramatically on my cars (one car is parked and off the road, the other hardly driven), seen my fuel budget get cut to less than 10% of what it was, and seen my overall productivity rise dramatically. Also, I am 'on call' at any time day or night because the equipment I need to do my job is literally sitting in my pantry.
Despite the fact that I paid for it, I still come out ahead because the money I spent on it is less than the cost of commuting, especially when you add in eating out every day for lunch. Also, in my job, I get to keep all my equipment, since I bought it. I have built myself a seriously powerful linux server as a result.
I have to say that working from home as an IT professional, or, indeed, as any information worker, is certainly the wave of the future.
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A lot of good answers. Thanks for using your own story as an example.
I believe people will supplement their full time income with home based part time jobs more and more. I don't believe home based jobs will replace full time away from home jobs in a big way.
As long as people can get past the lack of social interaction, I think businesses are all for lower overhead. Many of them are set in their ways and will take a mind shift, but I think it is a very real possibility.
The home office will be prevalent in the future with many people turning spare bedrooms into offices or studies to have the quiet workspace.
It really is a question of whether the businesses are pushing people toward the home via cost savings as employees or as laid off workers. My understanding is that when layoffs are high this is the most likely time for people to try their hand at starting their own businesses. We may see a lot more small businesses start up as a result of the economy.
The home office will be prevalent in the future with many people turning spare bedrooms into offices or studies to have the quiet workspace.
It really is a question of whether the businesses are pushing people toward the home via cost savings as employees or as laid off workers. My understanding is that when layoffs are high this is the most likely time for people to try their hand at starting their own businesses. We may see a lot more small businesses start up as a result of the economy.
I think that people and companies will try to move employees to their homes to work, but I do not think they will find it successful. Sitting at home at a computer is a very poor work environment. Kids, televisions, computer games, food: these are all distractions that could lead to less productivity and decreased effectiveness of working from home.
Some workers just can't handle the distractions, and some jobs can't be moved into a home. For these reasons I don't think more jobs will ultimately end up being home based.
Some workers just can't handle the distractions, and some jobs can't be moved into a home. For these reasons I don't think more jobs will ultimately end up being home based.
This is a very good point that I've noticed. Some folks are not disciplined enough to work from home, others can't drag themselves into an office.
different strokes i suppose.
I work from home until 11/12, got to staff and lunch and work until 8/9pm. that's my style
different strokes i suppose.
I work from home until 11/12, got to staff and lunch and work until 8/9pm. that's my style
Your schedule sounds great!
I think some jobs will be more geographically dependent and others less. Tech jobs will be very versatile and can be done from home for the most part and meetings can be done through virtual conference, such as Cisco's TelePresence and websites like gotomeeting.com. Other jobs such as home repair, plumbing, doctors and farming will continue to be reliant on physical presence and become more localized as the cost of travel increases.
source(s):
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/cisco-telepresence-3000-virtual-meeting-...
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/en_US/entry/entry.tmpl
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/cisco-telepresence-3000-virtual-meeting-...
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/en_US/entry/entry.tmpl
In the short term future, the next 5 years, I think the "home based job" market will increase until it plateaus.
In the long run, 20 years, No. I think most home based jobs will turn into jobs which can be automated in the future. If the "home based job" market continues into the future (20+ years) then I think it will be more of a physical labor job instead of the computer-work based jobs which exist at the present time.
In the long run, 20 years, No. I think most home based jobs will turn into jobs which can be automated in the future. If the "home based job" market continues into the future (20+ years) then I think it will be more of a physical labor job instead of the computer-work based jobs which exist at the present time.
More because of the internet. But I think there's a limit. Some things just need to be done in person.
Absolutely, for a few reasons.
1) Flexibility like this makes it easier to attract talent.
2) Talent is willing to take somewhat lower pay when they don't have to spend time and money commuting
3) Technology advances mean that people working from home can accomplish the same, if not more, than what office workers accomplish
4) It's good for the environment :)
That said, I don't think it will replace "office work". There are definitely roles and types of work that are better candidates for this kind of "nearshoring".
1) Flexibility like this makes it easier to attract talent.
2) Talent is willing to take somewhat lower pay when they don't have to spend time and money commuting
3) Technology advances mean that people working from home can accomplish the same, if not more, than what office workers accomplish
4) It's good for the environment :)
That said, I don't think it will replace "office work". There are definitely roles and types of work that are better candidates for this kind of "nearshoring".
I strongly believe more and more jobs will be home based i.e most people will become telecommuters as the New economy becomes more and and more knowledge based.This plus the convergence of Internet technologies like VOIP e.t.c,will make it easier for people like me from across the globe work in new Knowledge based economies,just like Bill Gates predicted in his book,The Road Ahead.
source(s):
me,myself and i
me,myself and i
In a word, yes.
Look at my three businesses:
1996: Silicon Alley Reporter
Inhouse staff: 70
Freelance writers: 20
% of work done inhouse 90%
% of work done by freelancers 10%
2004: Weblogs, Inc. (engadget, joystiq, etc).
Inhouse staff: 0
Freelance full-time from home: five
freelance writers: 400 bloggers (at time of sale to AOL)
% of work done inhouse 10%
% of work done by freelancers 90%
2008: Mahalo
Inhouse staff: 27 (or so)
Freelance full-time/halftime from home: 35
freelance researchers/writers: ???? we will see with Mahalo Answers... i think thousands in year
% of work done inhouse 50%
% of work done by freelancers 50%
There are many reasons for this trend including:
a) Broadband
b) Knowledge work (i.e. writing, coding, etc) doesn't require being in an office
c) People like working from home
d) cost saving in terms of rent (we would have 3x the rent if we had everyone at Mahalo)
e) flexibility for employer
f) healthcare making f/t employement 20-30% more expensive than using freelancers.
Inhouse editors at a newspaper or Mahalo making $35k would cost $25 an hour all in. Working from home the same level of quality can be obtained for $8-12 an hour (in my experience).
In some ways this is a great trend (people can stay home), in others it is a real problem (people working without benefits).
Additionally, there is another trend to that dovetails with this: the global work force. Mahalo Answers can support people from around the world. I'm sure many people on Answers are NOT in the USA, and many live in countries where the cost of living is 1/4 to 1/2 of what it is in the USA.
Look at my three businesses:
1996: Silicon Alley Reporter
Inhouse staff: 70
Freelance writers: 20
% of work done inhouse 90%
% of work done by freelancers 10%
2004: Weblogs, Inc. (engadget, joystiq, etc).
Inhouse staff: 0
Freelance full-time from home: five
freelance writers: 400 bloggers (at time of sale to AOL)
% of work done inhouse 10%
% of work done by freelancers 90%
2008: Mahalo
Inhouse staff: 27 (or so)
Freelance full-time/halftime from home: 35
freelance researchers/writers: ???? we will see with Mahalo Answers... i think thousands in year
% of work done inhouse 50%
% of work done by freelancers 50%
There are many reasons for this trend including:
a) Broadband
b) Knowledge work (i.e. writing, coding, etc) doesn't require being in an office
c) People like working from home
d) cost saving in terms of rent (we would have 3x the rent if we had everyone at Mahalo)
e) flexibility for employer
f) healthcare making f/t employement 20-30% more expensive than using freelancers.
Inhouse editors at a newspaper or Mahalo making $35k would cost $25 an hour all in. Working from home the same level of quality can be obtained for $8-12 an hour (in my experience).
In some ways this is a great trend (people can stay home), in others it is a real problem (people working without benefits).
Additionally, there is another trend to that dovetails with this: the global work force. Mahalo Answers can support people from around the world. I'm sure many people on Answers are NOT in the USA, and many live in countries where the cost of living is 1/4 to 1/2 of what it is in the USA.
The last point on the global workforce is one I am particularly interested in. With many employers moving operations abroad, this opportunity is now available from the U.S., without the need for costly relocations. In addition, it provides people a lot more financial freedom than may first be apparent, even within the country. For those who are blessed to live in societies that are peaceful, where a little money goes a long way, this is a huge opportunity to enrich themselves, and all of us through their participation.
A lot of people already have a home base second job (lots of ebay sellers for instance) but usually they do not make much money. As main jobs, it is still rare (some journalists and publishers here in GA, a few architects, real estate agents who work mainly the phone). For the rest of us, it will depend on the qualifications of the employee and the trust of the employer.
Yes, but common telecommute management skills need to be implemented. It costs money to rent space, and currently commercial property is not falling at the same rate as residential housing. This will convince more and more business owners to hire full time employees, and rent space for desks and cubicals.
Yes. Smart entrepreneurs will find that all it takes isa spare bedroom or a garage to start a business. Even deskbound employees can work some flexibility into their work schedules. It's all a matter of convincing the boss that your more productive at home.
Tim Ferriss has a great book on the subject: _The Four Hour Work Week_
Tim Ferriss has a great book on the subject: _The Four Hour Work Week_
In todays time, we are faced with two great problems, a high unemployment rate and a terrible market, the only thing we can hope for at this time is for the income taxes to cause a major rebound within the government; allowing them to give more money to the big corpoations that should have the potential to hire hundreds of employee's, the only thing is if the money collected isn't enough to make the market turn around then the answer is "YES" there will be more home based jobs.
Absolutely. More corporations are increasingly favoring laptops over desktops machines. Within the next 5 years, many organizations will have completely phased out desktop machines for a good number of departments and continue to pursue agreement contracts to lease more laptops.
At the same time, employees with laptops and occupations that can be performed from home are offered the opportunity to work from home. This relieves the cost of leasing office space and any applicable parking/transportation fees associated with commuting to work.
Meanwhile, many corporations will migrate their existing PBX communication systems with VOIP based communication systems. This will provide the communication infrastructure for organizations that permit their employees to work away from the office at reduced costs.
This may be transparent to some, but many are already working from home and have been for the past 1-2 years or more. This trend will eventually spread to other corporations and companies seeking to remain competitive in the marketplace.
Although this can lead to many empty buildings in the financial district, very few will still continue to remain occupied in key areas to serve as satellite offices or reserved for contingencies and emergencies.
At the same time, employees with laptops and occupations that can be performed from home are offered the opportunity to work from home. This relieves the cost of leasing office space and any applicable parking/transportation fees associated with commuting to work.
Meanwhile, many corporations will migrate their existing PBX communication systems with VOIP based communication systems. This will provide the communication infrastructure for organizations that permit their employees to work away from the office at reduced costs.
This may be transparent to some, but many are already working from home and have been for the past 1-2 years or more. This trend will eventually spread to other corporations and companies seeking to remain competitive in the marketplace.
Although this can lead to many empty buildings in the financial district, very few will still continue to remain occupied in key areas to serve as satellite offices or reserved for contingencies and emergencies.
I'd like to think so... We have the means, but we just more mainstream acceptance from the bricks and mortars.
Social contact is a big part of the working mentality but as more and more people are embracing online social interaction as a reasonable substitute, I think you will see more people wanting to try the home based alternatives.
But I'm not so much working towards home-based, more so boat-based... Roaming the coastline while still connecting and working remotely at whatever it is that will keep fuel in my tanks and food in my belly...
...arr, that be the life for me...
Social contact is a big part of the working mentality but as more and more people are embracing online social interaction as a reasonable substitute, I think you will see more people wanting to try the home based alternatives.
But I'm not so much working towards home-based, more so boat-based... Roaming the coastline while still connecting and working remotely at whatever it is that will keep fuel in my tanks and food in my belly...
...arr, that be the life for me...
I believe so. However, complete home based jobs won't be very easy or possible very soon as when you go to the office, there are number of things that you can do from office only and cannot be done from home.
Especially if you are into consulting etc, then you cannot work from home.
Akash...
Especially if you are into consulting etc, then you cannot work from home.
Akash...
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