There are definite pros and cons to both set ups. I find my WAH days have much less shape to them than my in-office days. I start earlier, finish later but generally have blocks here and there where I’m taking care of other commitments (be it a dr’s appointment or school volunteer commitment, etc.).

I’ve been splitting my week this way since my youngest was three. Barring a child being home sick now and then, I have never ever used it as a substitute for child care. It’s untenable for the employee and unacceptable to an employer. Obviously, it’s a different set of rules if you’re self-employed.

Does telecommuting hurt your career? I work from home, and my boss never “sees” me coming in early and staying late. I guess my achievements have to speak for themselves.

Seven reasons why telecommuting may not be for you:

1) Isolation. Not everyone can handle being on their own most of the time.

2) Team work can be tricky. Sometimes it’s easier to discuss things face-to-face rather than online meetings, phone calls and the dreaded email threads.

3) You lose a sense of what’s going on. It’s easy to be left out of meetings, spontaneous conversations, and not get your say on important issues.

4) The freedom isn’t there. I’m required to work the same hours as my coworkers and customers, and those “extended vacations” only apply to the self employed.

5) Working from home is not daycare. Small kids need more time and attention during the day and so does your work. You wouldn’t bring them into the office all the time, would you?

6) It can be hard to maintain a work/life balance when work is where you live.

7) Working from home takes dedicated space. Sure, working from home has it’s perks, but I could have a roommate or a smaller (and cheaper) apartment instead of an office.

Thanks for hearing me out!