The New Normal: Parents Working From Home

The trend for parents opting to work from home is quickly gaining speed. Many who only a year prior, had reservations, are now fully committed to making the switch. Remote working is not a good fit for all businesses, though. There are also several pros and cons to consider ahead of making your final decision. 

Remote Work Ability

In order to work from home you must have a job that gives you the option or choose a career that enables a home-based business. The good news is that many large corporations once dedicated to the office environment, through COVID-19 learned that they along with their employees benefit from working remotely. 

Technology is also paving the way for those with a higher-education in the medical field. For example, after completing physician assistant programs in Illinois or whatever state you live in, you can reduce your time at the office to part-time. Under the direction of the primary physician, you can help to reduce the number of patients they see in the office. Telehealth services make it easy to visit patients in need from virtually anywhere, allowing them to receive excellent medical care even after hours. 

Ability to Create Your Work Schedule

Perhaps one of the greatest joys of working from home is the ability to work on your terms. If you’re not a morning person, you can choose to work 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to make life easier   On the other hand, if you wake up at 5 a.m. you can start then and enjoy having afternoons free. There’s always an unexpected event that comes along at least once or twice a year. When you work from home there’s no need to check with the boss and ask for the time off. You simply mark your calendar and it’s done. 

Enjoy Your Freedom

In addition to working at a convenient time, you no longer miss out. If your child has a play or concert during school hours, you can work around it. Someone announces a future wedding, you simply write down the time and place. You won’t need to make a doctor’s appointment at night and your vacations are whenever and wherever you want. Working from home gives you a better quality of life. 

Eliminate Added Expense

Commuting to work costs you dearly. You have excessive wear and tear on your vehicle, consume lots of gas and may have to pay tolls. If you work in an office, you also need to wear suitable, semi-formal attire which can add up to several thousand in a single year. Most people who work away from home buy their coffee and lunch out. Factor in on average three days a week and you’re looking at an out-of-pocket expense of over $2,000 a year. 

Create Your Own Systems

It’s hard to create structure in the home when you’re absent most of the time. However, when you work from home, you are able. You can create a schedule for every member of the family and follow through to make sure the operation is flawless. Suddenly you achieve an organized home environment that reduces clutter and stress. Additionally, with systems in place, you clip coupons for food shopping and find ways to save money daily. 

Being Your Own Boss 

If you’re in the class of workers that work from home independently, there are a few drawbacks. As a self-employed person, it’s up to you to find work. In many cases, it can take up to a year to gain steady and trustworthy clients. Unlike working for a company, you won’t have sick time, family leave, or paid vacations. In addition, there is no retirement package to enroll in. If you want to put money away for your golden years, you’ll need to take out an individual 401(k) or Roth IRA. 

The pandemic caused many employees previously working in lavish office buildings to now work from home. The initial two-week lockdown to flatten the curve extended to beyond a year. During this time, many people became comfortable working at home. As many businesses begin the long process of re-opening their office buildings, employees are reconsidering the work environment.