Telecommuting: Comms pros offer pros and cons

From distractions to rental savings to your own personality, there’s plenty to consider.

From distractions to rental savings to your own personality, there’s plenty to consider

Do you sit in your cubicle, on deadline, trying to focus but unable to because of co-workers’ droning voices and staccato tapping on keyboards? Do you long for your quiet desk at home, where there aren’t as many distractions and there is a full, steaming coffee pot just steps away?

Face it, many communications duties lend themselves to working offsite; often, the teams are small, and a lot of the work is done solo. Working from home, a dream longed for by many communicators, is a plum enjoyed by few. But working virtually is not all full coffee pots and quiet desks, telecommuters say. It has its drawbacks.

Here are some pros and cons to consider before you approach your boss with slippers and laptop in hand:

Pro: No long, stressful commute

One of the most compelling benefits working from home brings is ditching long commutes, communicators say. A couple of steps to the home office or down the street to a favorite local coffee shop save money on gas and public transit, can reduce wear on your car and may lower your carbon footprint. For many, that means at least two more hours per day that could be spent working—or sleeping and relaxing.

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