In 2004, according to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), over 20 million American adults, people aged 16 years and older, worked at home “as part of their primary job.” These people worked at home at least one day a week as part of their primary job. In 2004, they made up about 15% of all workers employed in nonagricultural jobs.
Statistics and Work at Home Patterns
Fast forward five years later, and as of March 2009, according to the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) “Work at Home Patterns Report,” nearly 12% of full-time employees worked at home at some point during the day. This might well be attributed to employees taking work home from the office, a habit that technology has made more common. Of course, company layoffs likely impacted this figure as the numbers of employees working for a company from home or from the office shrunk.
Despite the fact that many at home workers are employed by a company as part of their primary job rather than being self-employed, any form of at home work can prepare the person who has the entrepreneurial spirit to master the art of focusing, becoming and remaining organized and creating and sticking to a regular work schedule. Even more than organizational and scheduling skills gained from working a few hours a day from home while gainfully employed by another company, people who negotiate with their employer to manage a telecommuting arrangement might find it easier to transfer their skills from a company based environment to an at home self-employed environment.
Valuable Telecommuting Assistance for at Home Workers
Anyone who is thinking about taking the leap to self-employment might consider working a telecommuting arrangement for one to two years before they leave their primary away-from-home job. This can diminish or eliminate the concern that a person might have around money and finances. However, it is important to note that people who decide to venture out upon this route will benefit from taking the necessary steps to lower their debt and reduce their weekly and monthly expenses.
Telecommuting Jobs, Flex Jobs and the Telecommute Job List are online organizations that provide databases that list available telecommuting jobs that at home workers can apply for. The Tele-work Coalition hosts webinars and provides white papers and reports on subjects like “Implementation of a Virtual Customer Care Program: How to Guarantee Success” and “Unleashing The Hidden Productivity of Your Small Business. Unified Communications: A Key Component of Your Telework Program.”
The Tele-work Coalition provides virtual call centers, fact sheets, newsletters and annual mobility reports for its members. Some states like Connecticut also offer information and program services to employers and employees who are interested in learning more about or getting started with a telecommuting at home work arrangement. The program also offers free advisory services to eligible Connecticut residents.
Rhonda Campbell - Reading gave me entrance into the world of writing. As a kid, I loved to read. I still do. I was in the fifth grade when I started ...
