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Being a Parent & Working from Home, Is there a balance?

Being a Parent & Working from Home, Is there a balance?

Have you ever thought of the challenges one might face if they work from home and manage a busy household? For scheduling purposes they would usually  take the easy route and work when their kids and spouse are not at home. Easy peasy right?

What about holiday weeks, school breaks(summer, winter, spring), and sick days? How do you juggle being a great asset to your company or keep good merits with your boss, if you have to take the whole summer off? And let's not forget, you want to be a caring parent and a thoughtful spouse and spend time with your loved ones when they are available or in need. Working at home is not always the fantastic life people paint it out to be. Everything worth doing, will have its challenges. Knowing your limitations and having a plan A, B,& C will always come in handy.

Taking a Time Out for 2 Hours During the Day

Remember to check your options on switching your hours or floating your time, if you find that you can trade some hours during the day for some hours at night, try to mix it up. If you have children who may be home for a vacation period, don't lock yourself away for 8 hours a day because you have to work. One of the options a lot of Independent Contractors and Telecommuting Reps have is splitting their time. Taking time to be with your family is one of the perks of being in this business, utilize it to the max.

Mark Your Territory for the Times You Have to be About Business Only

If you have a set area or room that you have your office set up in make sure to hang a sign, if you can, that states business hours. Sometimes our loved ones take for granted that just because they are "off work" or "out of school", that you are available to them. You can help them when you can but not until your sign comes down. Separating the "you the mom or dad", from "you the Worker", can sometimes be hard for families to except, but if you follow the paragraph above, you can still keep your household happy while separating the times needed completing work tasks and the times you have to spend with them.

Days Off Are Not Just for Weekends

Flexibility in a home based business is important. If you do not have flexibility in your schedule and your time you may want to look for another opportunity that awards you such liberties. Taking a day off during the week to divide your time is a great way to plan a day trip, family lunch, movie day and so much more. Or  use that time to take care of a sick family member if you must.

                                                                                           

Parent Switch Day

This is a oldie but goodie, I can not take any of the credit for this idea. One of my Contractors told me she was doing a parent switch day because as a single mother because she wanted to work 35 hours a week but with a baby, now toddler, it was impossible. She partnered with another mom in the area and they alternated days on and off and babysat for each other on the alternate day. Obviously you want to only do this with someone you know and trust, or try a service that can do this for you. This is not only a great idea for long vacations, and for kids who may not be in school yet, but for after school hours as well. Try a long day, short day parent switch. Where some days you work 8 hours and other days you work 5.  Thanks for this awesome info. AG

Remember working at home is a great advantage to you for many reasons. Most people live at least 30 minutes from their job location so they spend at least an hour just commuting back and forth to work. Use the extra time that has been given to you wisely. When you are not distracted by the needs of your household, take that extra time for yourself, and you will be better rested for when your family really needs you.

The Pro's & Con's of working from Home

With so many work at home opportunities available throughout the globe. More and more people are joining up with companies to make a living being independent contractors. There are even jobs available who's purpose is to hire people, and immediately put them in a telecommuting program to cut back on in-office or in-center cost.

You must wondering if, telecommuting or contracting, is the way to go for you. Here are a few points to consider, good and bad, about working from home.

Upfront Cost:

Telecommuting directly from a large company will most likely pay for your equipment and training cost, but you will not qualify for the tax breaks that come out of paying for internet, phone, and other utilities even including rent, or mortgage payments.
Contractors are responsible for, upfront cost in coming into the business, equipment, and certifications, but qualify for tax breaks on their office space, utilities, gas, postage, and even the training cost involved.

Training Pay

Telecommuters are usually paid during their training period, because they have to spend gas and time coming back and forth to the training facility  More often then not are also responsible to work at the facility for 2-6 months before they are allowed to actually start working from home.


Contractors are usually not paid during the training part of their courses, because training for contractors is  like taking a college or trade course. You do train at home and have virtual technicians available to make sure that your equipment is ready for training as well as production time. Once training is over you can start booking hours right away, in most cases the same day.

On Hand Support

Telecommuters have access to a online chat system to support them with any additional questions they may have, customer take-overs if needed, and support guidance if they are having trouble navigating through there systems. Most up-learns or desk drops needed are done through email, or the rep is requested to come into the center. If the reps AHT(average handling time) is too high the company usually will give this rep additional training up to disciplinary actions if not corrected in a timely manner.

Contractors are given the same online chat support systems for questions, take overs and additional guidance. Up-learns and desk drops are all handled through emails, meetings, and online classroom environments. Any assistance needed for conquering your AHT levels  is handled through team leaders, support staff and additional training. Since most contractors have hundreds of companies they can work for, their clients are less likely to let them go and are willing to work with the contractor to obtain and excel in their metrics. Because some people feel better in a real classroom environment then in a virtual one, this option may be less then ideal.

Scheduling

Telecommuters usually work for companies that allow the at home agent to service between 8 or 9 am to 5 or 6 pm. This is because the support crew and team leaders are still in house agents and they want to limit the hours that managers are available throughout their shifts. When a new agent comes on board they usually have little to no seniority and have to work either the mid-to-late shift options. Lunches and breaks are dictated by the schedule and the days you work are usually dictated by that same system. This system works because you can be better trained to be where you are suppose to be at all times, and always know when you are going to work and when you will have days off.

Contractors usually work for clients that have 18 hour shifts to 24 hour shifts. Agents can pick when they work, how long they work, and when and for long their breaks in-between are. Managers and Team Leaders are also contracted so they pick and chose just like the agents. Agents can chose companies looking for reps to work at least 10, 15, and 20 hours a week, but when you go look at the scheduling tool companies have 30, 40 even 60 hours a week to give to those who want full time work. Being diligent and responsible is required to be a contractor. Most contractors schedule themselves for the same times daily, but those who float, trade and even drop shifts can become complacent in not completing the obligation set forth between them and the client.

Tax Breaks & W2 vs 1099

Telecommuters who are working for large companies usually are reimbursed for the cost of the internet services, and even a portion of their cell or office phone can be compensated as well. All other utilities, such as electric and water are not included in this deal. You can include these items in your taxes for a percentage of right-off cost, but will not receive much of a break since you are still a agent of a company and that it is a privilege to work from home. As a W2 employee, you are limited in what you can consider office cost, and can be fined since you are not a business nor a contractor to claim to many office supply write-offs.

Contractors are responsible for their own internet, office phone, and other utilities throughout the year. But as a 1099 Independent Contractor, you can claim a percentage of everything except the kitchen sink. Exceptions are clothes, car note, and single person dining. Smart phone users can take pictures of recites for postage, dining, utility bills, mortgage/rent payments, gas, groceries,office supplies, equipment, and training cost. Most of these cost is divided by the percentage based on the size of your office space, others are full tax deductible. 

If this information was successful in helping you to better understand why it's good and why it could be bad to work from home. Then we have done our job, if not and you have questions visit our website www.maywehelpyou.net or contact us through email admin@maywehelpyou.net