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Work-at-Home Employment: It isn’t a Real Job
There is one big problem with working at home. People think you don’t have a ‘real’ job. That makes taking yourself seriously an important factor to business success. By taking yourself seriously, you show others that you need to be taken seriously, too. But sometimes, it’s difficult.
I know. I’ve blogged on tips to help show others you’re serious about your profession before. And yet, for all that I apply my own advice, I still struggle to get people to understand that I have a serious job.
Case in point: last week’s phone call from my toddler’s daycare. Just as I was preparing to drive my daughter for a day with her friends, the phone rang. One of the workers asked nicely if I could keep my girl at home. The woman’s own daughter was sick and she had to leave, which meant the daycare would be short-staffed if all the children showed up.
Of course I understood, and I told the woman that family comes first. I get that. No problem.
But I’m irritated nonetheless. I know I am the first parent on the list to call (they’ve told me so), and I am often asked to keep my daughter home when the daycare is short of staff. I’ve been told, “We know it’s not a problem for you,” “It’s easy for you to take a day off,” and, “We know you work at home, so it’s just better to call you than bother another parent.”
Yes, my schedule is flexible. Yes, I set my own hours and no, I don’t get in trouble with the boss when I can’t make it to work that day. I still have deadlines to meet, responsibilities to maintain and obligations to manage. Because I work from home does not make my job less important or more dispensable than anyone else’s job.
It seems I’m going to have to set perceptions straight. Those who work from home deserve fair treatment and the respect that others who work outside their home receive. For example, the daycare could set up a rotating list so that each parent takes a turn staying home when daycare cancellations occur.
I fully understand that real life happens and I’m glad that the sick child has a mother devoted to her care. I have no issues caring for my own child, either. But I do have issues when no other person has to deal with lost work hours and scrambling to reschedule because he or she is traditionally employed.
I’m a freelancer; I’m not the fall guy.
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James,
That’s one of the main reasons I don’t claim many jobs or blog as often as I’d like-interruptions from people who don’t understand what “working from home” really means.
It’s just not phone calls-although even when you don’t answer they have still disrupted a train of thought-but other elements outside one’s control. In my case, right now my dad is staying with me while he recuperates from surgery, and I’m constantly feeling guilty that I spend so much of the day in another room. He occasionally mentions that I’m “never” around, even though I prepare meals, give him medication and sit wiith him in front of the tv from time to time, but he wouldn’t say that if I had to leave the house for a “real” job. Then, when his visiting nurses and therapists come, I feel obligated to stop and talk to them for a bit, which is always longer expected because it crosses over to socialization.
When my daughter is home and wanting the computer, it’s another issue. I don’t want a second computer because I really don’t want her to have unlimited access, so it’s a matter of sharing. Somedays it’s a matter of repeatedly saying “You can have it when I’m done and I’ll let you know when”-more distractions.
Then my husband will come home and ask if I’ve gone to the store, cleaned the litterbox, run the washing machine, and done any of the other chores on our list. In most cases I have, but still resent that he wouldn’t ask those questions if I was in an office from 8-5.
Lately, I’m really stressed over all of this. I’m starting to think that I need to establish an agenda for personal chores and never, ever, allow them to creep into my workday (when my daughter is in school). It will mean more guilt feelings that I’m failing as a housewife, but what else can one do? Isn’t that what famous writers do, lock themselves in their study for 8 straight hours? I read Steven King writes every day except for his birthday and Christmas…I bet they let him alone!
I hear you on all accounts, and I can related to everything you’ve mentioned. When I get exasperated with people, I always blurt out, “Do you see me showing up on construction sites for a coffee with the workers? Do I go hang out for hours at someone’s office?” It’s a frustrating problem.
I gathered some resources that can help set boundaries for home-office workers. Some have helped immensely. Some haven’t.
Most of all, it’s learning to just say no and put your foot down until people get it. They may feel hurt, insulted, and set aside for the first two weeks. Once they see that by leaving you alone to work, you’re done faster and can spend more time with them, they’ll come around.
Keep me posted on how it goes!
So true, I can call ourselves the self-starters and the more responsible ones as there are no bosses or supervisors that would tell us what we should do, we always initiate all the things are that are needed to be done. Thus, we can call all the freelancers a true professional and we do need a the same respect from others.
I am in a similar situation myself. I always have a tough time getting friends and family to relise what I do is serious stuff. I have been doing data entry for nearly 3 years and everyone knows I do this yet I still get interupted and treated as if its not a real job.
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Work at home is still not appreciated. Too bad!
Luckily for me,my two kids understand the importance of deadlines.If one is at home he usaully will come up with a cup of coffee and have a chat off he goes again.Maybe its people around you that provide distraction and oh by the way I still hold a fulltime job
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