Home working: Could it work for you?

Or did you wait anxiously on wet and windy station platforms, fretting at the lack of information and peering frequently along the line for your long-delayed train? And did you dread the journey home?

Multiply this by five for every working week and then by 45 for the average year, and you get some idea of the sheer stress and waste of productive time that is the result of simply travelling to and from your workplace.

Then there's the cost. With fuel taxes, car prices and public transport - where it exists -that cost more than anywhere else in Europe, travelling to work can seriously damage your wealth.

So how can you beat the commuter blues, lower your stress levels and increase productivity?

Flexitime working, in which staff in an office or factory stagger their starting and finishing times, can cut down on time wasted in peak travel periods.

They work an agreed 'core' time each day, during which workplace attendance is compulsory, but arrival and departure times are flexible within one or two hours.

Of course, the scheme does not suit all industries, and there are many whose working day is tailored closely to that of the US or European partners or customers.

But by and large, many that have adopted such enlightened practices have noted increased productivity coupled with a decline in staff turnover.

Now, for a growing number of people, teleworking is fast becoming a preferred option. Advances in computer and software technology, the wide range of cheap, easy-to-use equipment such as fax machines, desktop scanners and printers, plus the growth of Internet and e-mail access, have boosted personal skills and profitability in many companies.

And the fierce competition between providers of telecommunications services has helped drive down, in real terms, the costs of setting up a home-based office from where people can work happily and efficiently online.

If you think teleworking is the answer for you, you will first have to convince your employer that the company would gain by letting you work from home.

This can be a hurdle as some bosses and managers still harbour the outdated idea that 'out of sight' means 'out of control' and that instead of beavering away under their watchful eye, you will be lounging in the garden, staying in bed, or even shopping.

It does not seem to occur to them that, just as in the office, your output and productivity are measurable in exactly the same way, and that deadlines are deadlines in any industry, whether met at home or elsewhere.

A recent survey by business communications company Mitel Networks revealed that more than 40 per cent of office workers who could not at present work from home would seriously consider changing jobs, and more than 25 per cent would take a salary cut, to be able to do so.

Managing director Mr Graham Bevington said: "State-of-the-art mobile and messaging technology means that workers have the necessary tools to be able to work from wherever they are.

"This, coupled with constant travel crises in the UK, adds to the frustration of having to come into the office every day. Here at Mitel, we have found that staff who work from home, even occasionally, are far happier, less stressed and more productive."

Working women, in particular, find teleworking fits in admirably with the demands of their families. Schoolchildren benefit from knowing that a parent is at home if needed urgently, and significant savings can be made on child-care costs.

Ms Katherine Jones runs her own business as a freelance secretary/PA from her home at Minster Lovell. She said: "Teleworking lets me manage my working time more efficiently. If I have a spare half-hour between jobs, I can iron the laundry or catch up on other chores.

"Importantly for me, I make sure I arrange things so that I can exercise for at least an hour every day.

"I have not been in business for long, but I have my own website and I have already handled work for London firms as well as for local companies."

Resentment from staff who remain office-bound can sometimes be a problem. People who normally chat across a desk or office will often communicate only grudgingly and infrequently with teleworkers, and sometimes even deliberately cut them out of any established social loop. One solution is for teleworkers to be able to spend a day in the office, even if only to keep up with the gossip.

Ms Caroline Milner is a marketing manager for conference organiser Rubicon and works from her home near Banbury. She said: "Many large corporations now actively encourage homeworking because they have finally recognised how attractive it is, not least to their overheads.

"But while the advantages for working mothers such as myself are infinite, staff who still work from the office have to accept the seamless divide between the homeworkers' business and personal time.

"Attitudes have to change. There is no excuse for not communicating with someone just because they are not in the same room. It is a two-way street."

In most homes a spare bedroom or other unused space can be turned into a home office. As far as possible it should be quiet and comfortable and, most importantly, capable of being closed off at the end of the working day.

Major alterations and extensions to your property should be avoided, if possible. The Inland Revenue may levy capital gains tax on a portion of the house that has been used for business purposes when you sell.

You may need to install an extra phone line for a fax machine, or even a high-speed ISDN or ADSL link if your work involves transferring large files or graphics.

It is also a good idea to check that your home contents insurance covers all computer and related equipment on your premises. Most teleworkers who use their company's apparatus will normally be covered by the firm's policy, but check that this is the case.

Finally, there is an advantage that teleworkers will happily enjoy over their office-based colleagues - they will no longer have to drink the foul vending machine coffee!

USEFUL CONTACTS:

** Telecentre, Telework and Telecottage Association 0800 6160088

** Employers for Work/Life Balance 0207 925 5415, www.dfee.gov.uk/worklifelife

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** www.home-workers.com