Okay its not THE Pond - as some call the ocean. And it is not just A Pond - as in smaller than a lake. It is a lake! I enjoy living on it and spending time on my back porch listening to music, gazing at the lake and pondering.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Telecommuting

In my post of April 19th I jokingly said that I could see the day when companies supplied washers and dryers at the job so you could get those tasks done during your work day. Well, in a way that was already happening and I just did not realize it. Telecommuting is not a recent event. Our company has had some positions doing that for some time. It has only been in the last few months, as gas prices have spiked, they have rolled out the opportunity for all employees who work on laptops and already have been working from home during evenings and weekends.

I began working Thursdays from my home last week so I have done it twice as a "normal workday." I have done it a few times when Maverick was sick but the day was taken as a "sick day." Now I am being paid for a day worked while I sit at the kitchen bar sipping gourmet coffee flavors a beautiful view of Skiatook Lake over my shoulder. I really get just as much work accomplished. Many meetings are done via conference calls anymore and those can be done from any phone.

I have a couple of rules I am following that I have made for myself. First off, I get up like any other work day, shave, dress (although the wardrobe is shorts and t-shirt), boot-up the laptop, make coffee and eat breakfast by the time I take Maverick to school. Once I return from that I am ready to go to work (15 minutes earlier than days I go in to Tulsa). The second thing I do is keep the television off. I do listen to music with the iPOD, however. But I do that when I am in the office too, when I don't have anyone in to see me.

I do take time to do 2 to 3 loads of laundry during the day. It really takes no more time than the breaks one takes during the day at the office when you might stop and make "small talk" with a co-worker about kids, sports, politics or the price of gas. This makes the laundry work for the weekend much less for Debbie.

Telecommuting is becoming a common practice around the country and world. I have a neighbor that works for a company in Dallas and used to commute to and from there. He would come home for the weekends. Now he works from his home full-time and goes to Dallas about once a month. He says sometimes feels a bit isolated but that for the most part he is enjoying it.

We've agreed that we should meet for lunch on a back porch one day soon on a Thursday. Now that will be a surreal experience!

3 comments:

Trisha said...

It is nice, isn't it!? I love working from home! The self-discipline is the biggest issue, but being self-employed, I answer only to myself and can move my hours around however I need them to be.

Dennis said...

I think I'll call Fred and ask if I can try this "telecommuting" thing out ... sure would beat driving down dusty Osage county roads!!!

Jimmy Clare said...

Hello
My name is Jimmy Clare. My family and I lived in Skiatook for many years before moving to Kansas, OK so I could take a job as a minister (Church of Christ). Do you attend the Church of Christ in Skiatook?
Just wondering
JC