Information about telework for individuals
If you already work from home or are thinking of doing so you will find something of interest in this website. If you are looking for work or setting up a home office you can benefit from the services offered by the Telework Association. You will find there is some guidance on the following pages but you will find a whole load more in the Telework Handbook which is sent to you as soon as you join up. As a member you will receive the weekly email newsletter which contains interesting news items and a selection of opportunities for home based work. You will also get the quarterly magazine and access to FAQ’s and a discussion forum in the members area of this website.
The Telework Association is more than just a body promoting telework and advising members, it is a community of like-minded people who are enjoying the benefits and freedoms of a 21st Century work pattern. It consists of people who are employed and self-employed and in all kinds of jobs. The Association can provide advice on how to approach an employer to request home working and how to set up a business at home. Join now to experience the benefits of membership.
Finding Work
If you are looking for an opportunity to work from home you will find there are various options open to you. You may be able to find a job working for an employer who pays a salary but who doesn’t need you to go into the office each day. This could involve work over the phone such as telesales or using the internet and may be dependent on you having a broadband connection at home. There are also many home based work offers which involve commission or payment by results. Or you could be interested in running your own business and perhaps considering taking up a franchise.
By joining the Telework Association you will receive the weekly newsletter that contains a good selection of home working opportunities that are available from reputable sources. There are also some guidelines for members on how to avoid the potential scams that are on offer over the internet. But remember that teleworking is not a job, it is simply a way of working. You still need to apply your abilities to perform a job or run a business at home in a similar way to any other work pattern.
Setting up a Home Office
If you are thinking of working from home you will need to decide how this will fit in with the other uses, and users, of you home. Ideally you will need dedicated space so it doesn’t interfere with other people in the house, or more importantly they don’t disturb you. There are also some issues such as insurance, rates and tax that need to be considered.
The Teleworking Handbook, which is provided free to all members, has some useful tips on working from home. It is most likely that if you have an issue setting up a home office there will be members of the Association who have met it before and you can find the answer through the forum or via the information service.
Self Motivation and Isolation
Many people worry that if they had the opportunity to work from home they would simply never get out of bed in the morning. Because our working lives have been so ruled by commuting to our place of work we are unsure how we will adapt to this new pattern. In fact many home working opportunities involve working fixed hours and remote workers need to be logged on as if they were in the office.
However some people do find the lack of external discipline strange and have to adapt. Members of the Telework Association have the opportunity to share their experiences in the online forum and meet other people with similar issues. The Association also runs regular webinar sessions to help with these problems.
