Britain has the longest working hours and commuting times in Europe and so it is no surprise that working from home is becoming a more popular choice for workers in the UK.  If you’ve often thought about this and wondered how you could get your employers to agree and whether it can work for you then read on.

You should always have clear and justifiable reasons for wanting to work from home.  You should also make sure that these benefit your employer as this is what they will always be looking for!  Some of the most important reasons for you may be to avoid the commute or to give you a generally better quality of life but you should tailor these to show how they will be an advantage to your employer.  For example, you could say that you will be able to manage your time better without having to travel to and from work each day or because it will allow you more peace and quiet. 

You should also be aware that even if your employers agree, it may not be as easy as you might think to be as productive at home.  Some people are not well suited to working in a non-office environment and it takes discipline to work when there is no one else around keeping an eye on you.  It can also be quite lonely if you are the sort of person who is used to having a quick chat or gossip in the office.   If your employer is willing, see if you can have a trial period and be honest with yourself at the end of it.

Make sure you actually have the space at home to work and try if possible to have a part of you home that is solely dedicated to work.  This will help you to get into the mind set of working and you will also be able to leave it behind at the end of the day by going into your ‘living’ areas.  It might start to drive you mad if you end up living and working in the same place! 

Working from home can greatly enhance your quality of life at the same time as allowing you to manage your other demands such as family and friends.  You will be able to create more time for yourself and your stress levels may be reduced.  However, there are drawbacks and you should always make sure you are aware of these before deciding whether this way of working is for you. 

For more information on this visit Learning to Work from Home