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Just Watering the Weeds…

Last weekend, during the mad rush of dance recitals and school coming to a crashing end, I noticed that while my house was in shambles and the lawn was overgrown, my husband decided to “pitch in” and do some yard work. O.k., fine…although the dishes were stacked to the ceiling and the laundry could do itself at this point (because it was so old and stinky), at least it was showing an effort.

As I ran around getting the last bit of sewing done on my daughter’s costume I noticed him standing outside in the backyard.  He had the hose in his hand and seemed to be watering something.  June through September is South Florida’s rainy season so, in most cases, our lawn and plants do not need additional water.

Curious, I walked toward the window to get a closer look at what exactly the dude was watering.  Turns out he was standing there watering a pile of weeds in one of our flower beds.  No flowers actually, just weeds.

Unfortunately for me, I’m one of those people who would rather do it myself than endure the rigors of having to explain how I want something done.  For example, cleaning the floors. I want them swept first, then Swiffered (I’m making that a verb I guess), then mopped.  They are dark hardwood, so everything shows.

I understand that this is my problem and no one else’s so I own it. The problem is that my 43 year old husband, who didn’t know how to do much around the house, now knows even less.  He took seven hours out of a Saturday to fix a broken doorknob, then immediately had to take to the bed due to sheer exhaustion. I’ve left him to his devices and gave him a list of simple cleaning duties only to have them poorly done.

Mind you, he is not a moron and in fact is probably playing me in order to get out of doing things around the house.  So I pick my battles.

However, watering the weeds takes the cake. I’ve never mentioned that I saw him doing this; standing outside in the hot, blazing South Florida sun, but it’s something I like to conjure up for giggles.

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New Connecticut Law Gives Statewide Telecommuting Initiative A Boost

According to recent statistics only about 1% of Connecticut employees from the federal government and private sector telecommute. These dismal numbers have prompted a statewide initiative to increase the telework force. In fact, the state has employed the help of a consultant group called Telecommute Connecticut to help state agencies implement and maintain telecommuting programs. However, the efforts of Telecommute Connecticut have been thwarted by bureaucratic red tape.

A 1996 law made telecommuting possible for most state workers, but stipulated that all requests for telecommuting be approved by the Department of Administrative Services. Individual agencies had to defer to this outside agency to make business decisions that affected the way their departments functioned on a daily basis. Often times it would take the DAS too long to grant approval, leaving agencies in a real pickle.

This is why advocates of telecommuting are applauding the passage of new legislation that is handing control back to individual agencies. Under the new law (which passed last week), individual agencies can approve requests to telecommute. The new law also offers more flexible telecommuting options. Field Workers now have the option to telecommute for a portion of the day. Rather than driving to the office to check in, employees will be able to report directly to their assignments. The new bill is expected to increase the number of telecommuters by as much as 9 percent and help significantly reduce the state’s traffic and fuel costs. For more information on this new law and how it will effect Connecticut’s telecommuting efforts, click here.

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Everybody’s Working on the Weekend…

Remember that old 80’s song by Loverboy (yes, I said Loverboy); “Everybody’s Working FOR the Weekend?” I was recently thinking about that tune because I can’t remember when I HAD a weekend of no work.

Actually it’s my own fault. Like many telecommuters whose paycheck depends upon productivity, I can’t get away from the work. It’s like an old boyfriend who isn’t good for me…beckoning me to spend “just a few minutes” with it when I should be doing something else.

This past weekend we spent the day at a downtown venue to see my daughter’s dance recital. She was in the matinee and evening performance so the day was pretty much consumed with dance. All the hard work the dancers put into practicing through the year paid off because the performances were outstanding.

Like a hangover on Sunday, I was beat from the heat outside and running back and forth with costume changes and doing hair and makeup. But I had to work on Sunday. I had a deadline on Monday and a client meeting Monday afternoon.

So I had no choice but to put in the hours for most of the day Sunday. If I were working in an office, that project would just have had to wait until Monday. I could have gone into the office first thing and finished the copy. However, knowing that I had two kids home from school, breakfast and laundry to do…I simply wouldn’t have the quiet time to finish what needed to be done.

One of my other work from home friends, whose daughter dances with mine did the same thing…worked all day Sunday. I suppose this is one of the downsides to working where you live…you can’t get away.

I’ve tried a myriad of different strategies. From making office hours to trying to work only certain days during the week. Somehow I always end up doing work every single day. It’s also because our time is divided, whether we like it or not.  We don’t have the same autonomy as we did when we worked in an office away from home. We have our kids, pets and chores woven into our financial livelihood which makes finding solid hours of hard core work a little difficult.

How do you plan your day? I’m taking suggestions or comments on ways to avoid working on the weekend and start working “for” the weekend!

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Can Telecommuting Be a Bad Career Move?

The majority of studies out there tout the positive aspects of telecommuting: It saves money, it helps the environment and it improves the mental well-being of workers. However, a new pair of studies suggests that telecommuting may be harmful to your career.

Kimberly Elsbach and Jeffrey Sherman of the University of California Davis combined behavioral studies with worker interviews and found that those who worked at the office had a slight advantage over their telecommuting colleagues. The findings revealed that while evaluating their subordinates, supervisors thought better of employees that they were able to actually see in action. Elsbach explains, “If you were [at the office during] normal hours, you were viewed as dependable and reliable.” Employees who were seen at the office outside of business hours fared even better. According to Elsbach, these workers were considered “committed and dedicated.”

Most managers were unaware of the important role that face time played in their employee appraisals. “Our study showed that inferences are likely to be made spontaneously, without deliberate thinking or awareness,” Elsbach says. Often times workers are valued if they are considered a “team player” or they act as a “good leader.” Judging employees by such criteria puts telecommuters at a severe disadvantage simply because they are not at the workplace to exhibit these highly valued traits.

In order to keep up with visible office colleagues, Elsbach suggests that flex-time employees make their presence known. Many telecommuters do this by staying by their computer all day and responding to work emails as soon as they receive them. Others try to send emails late at night to give the impression that they are working hard after hours. When teleworkers do show up at the workplace, it’s critical that they make the most of their time at the office and interact with their colleagues in dynamic ways.

However, this troubled economy has most employees flocking to the office in an attempt to secure their position within their companies. According to recent statistics, even workers who have the option to telecommute aren’t taking advantage. “Although companies are offering employees more chances than ever to work outside the office, fewer workers are accepting the offers for a more convenient schedule.” More and more employees are foregoing the flexibility of telecommuting in order to make sure they stay on their supervisor’s radar. For more information on the UC Davis studies, click here.

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School’s Out-Now What!

Those are the two words that can strike fear (or joy) in the hearts of many moms who work from home.  For those who have school aged children “summer” takes on a variety of meanings.

On the upside, you have a break from time consuming homework and projects.  Also, many after school activities cease-providing you with more time in the office.

But here comes the downside-lots of free time for the kids while mom has to be in the office working.  Not one to let the T.V. or Xbox provide hours of endless entertainment, I’ve often wrestled with what is the best way to keep the kids happy and entertained while I’m at work.

One savior for many working parents has been camp. I don’t remember camp being a big thing back when I was a kid but it certainly is now.  The only issue with camp, especially with younger children, is to select the camp that your child will enjoy.  The last thing you want to do each morning is have to drag your child to camp where you know they may be unhappy.

Also, take into consideration that many camps also go on several field trips throughout the week, which is great but I have “wanderers” so letting them loose in the Broward Science Center with hundreds of other campers leaves me feeling a little uneasy.

So year after year my children attend a summer camp at their former preschool.   A small Methodist church, this camp is as basic and old school as they come-and they love it.  No electronics, one large room loaded with board games, books and four square, plus the mother of all pluses-this camp is only $20 a day.  They go nowhere, but have events each day such as a water slide, a magician or karate lessons.  Also, it’s free play all day long, which is really what my kids want to do during the summer.

Although it’s a camp for elementary aged children, my son is spending time at camp too.  This year he is attending as a counselor in training.  He doesn’t get paid, but goes to camp specifically to assist the counselors.  Middle school aged children are at an especially tricky age-they are old enough to occupy themselves but if you let them loose all summer, many of them (my son, specifically) will spend hours on Xbox or watching endless episodes of South Park.

Some of my other friends who work from home are sharing childcare and having play dates after work or swapping days.  Another option is to create a daily schedule for children where they have a set amount of time on the computer, T.V. or reading.

One thing I always include throughout the summer are academic workbooks (groan from the peanut gallery).  When my kids check out during the summer I’ve learned that the beginning of the school year is tremendously more difficult. Typically I’ll ask my kids’ teachers for workbook recommendations-which usually consists of a review of the current year with a preview of the upcoming grade.  The kids complete one or two workbook pages per day and I’ll usually give them a small reward for completing pages.

Whatever your summer plans include, check back or start a conversation with other moms on WAHM.com for ideas and inspiration on what to do with your children this summer.  And above all…have a safe and FUN summer-take some time for yourself if possible.

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New Study Says Telecommuting Makes Employees Happy

According to a new study conducted at Brigham Young University, telecommuting makes for happier and healthier workers.  Professor E. Jeffrey of BYU’s School of Family and Life just completed a study of 24,000 IBM employees.  He found that those who were permitted to telecommute at least twice a week experienced less burnout and less “work-life” conflict.  The results of the study, which will be published in the June issue of the Journal of Family Psychology, found that employees who worked a traditional 8 to 5 reached burnout after 38 hours.  Workers who had a more flexible schedule that included telecommuting worked 57 hours before experiencing work-life conflict.

“When you have that sense of autonomy…in where or when you’re going to work, then the natural outgrowth is job satisfaction,” says Hill.  Hill can personally testify to the benefits of telecommuting.  Before his tenure at BYU, he was one of the first IBM employees to telecommute.  He found that working from home allowed him to be more productive and gave him more time to spend with his family.  Staci Boswell can also testify to the positive effects of telecommuting.  An IT analyst for ARUP laboratories, Boswell works from her home office two days a week.  Her flexible schedule allows her to get more work done and still spend time with her baby daughter.  “I love telecommuting, and I think more companies should offer it,” Boswell said.  “It provides a lot of cost savings and make for happier, less-stressed employees.”

Hill’s study is part of an attempt to make IBM a more family-friendly corporation.  As a result of efforts to increase telecommuting and flexible working schedules, IBM is getting more out of their employees.  They are increasing efficiency while decreasing operation costs.  “The evidence is clear that IBM has more productive employees and spends less on real estate,” says Hill.  “It’s a win-win.”

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Hug Your Babies Tonight…

Every now and then you hear a story about another family that rocks your world-and not in a good way. As you go about your daily routine of work, kids, house and errands we often forget to stop and embrace the things most important to us-our family and children.

A week ago one of my Facebook friends mentioned that her 14 year old nephew came home sick from school, threw up and then the next day his mother found him unconscious. They rushed him to the hospital where they diagnosed him with one of the more virulent strains of bacterial meningitis. In her post, she mentioned that he was on a ventilator and his organs were beginning to shut down.

This is the kind of post that makes any mother shudder. Although my 13 year old son had the meningitis shot last year, the thought of any scary disease like that happening to someone so young makes you stop in your tracks and hold your children tightly.

A week has gone by and I’ve wondered how her nephew was doing. She posted nothing and I wasn’t close enough to her to ask. Today her post was that “the next 48 hours were going to be a grueling and sad.”  Articles on the Internet confirmed my suspicions. The family had to take their son off of life support and he passed away early Sunday morning.

Having a child so close in age and trying to think about what his mother must be going through is more than I could bear. He was perfectly fine one day, then so incredibly ill that he was rushed to the emergency room where his body shut down. Now he is gone.

I sat quietly at my desk and thought about all the times I tell my children, “one more minute” or “I can’t because I’m working” and became rather disgusted with myself. I understand-we simply can’t spend every moment with our children and that we have to work; however, it made me sick to think that there have been more moments than I’d like to admit where I chose sitting at my desk, typing away on the computer versus stopping to see or hear what they had to say.

Tonight my son received an award at middle school for outstanding achievement in social studies. At the same time, another mother was holding visitation for her son at a funeral home in Michigan.

This tragedy only reminded me to remember what’s important and how squeezing every possible moment we have with our children is far more valuable than a few extra dollars or another gig.  We’ll never have this time again once the moment is gone.

So tonight, if you have to work, hug your babies before you put them to bed. Remind them of how much you love them and watch them drift off to sleep. Remember that you are lucky to have another day with them.

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Working while the Cat Is Depressed

I noticed it happening a few weeks ago, but like a “good” pet owner, I ignored it.  This is hardly the first time he’s done it…yanking fur from his body, but this time it was with more zeal.  My 19 year-old cat Soho has a “quirky” personality.  We picked him up at the Gainesville Tree Farm when my husband was in law school at the University of Florida.  We were drawn to his cockeyed appearance and how his black and white fur had no rhyme or reason.  When we got him home my husband saw a pattern of strange behavior-the sneer he’d give or the constant meowing for treats at all hours of the night.

As the years dragged on, Soho’s world was rocked by another kitty, two children and now a rambunctious Labrador Retriever.  Around the holidays Soho would become so distressed when the Christmas tree arrived he would pull the fur off his back. This would go on only a few days and typically he would stop once he realized it was staying in our living room.

A few weeks ago I noticed the behavior starting again but we had a birthday party to throw, a house to clean and work to complete.  I figured, like in the past, the fur pulling would stop.

However, after waking up every morning to tumble weeds of black and white brittle fur I realized this wasn’t going away any time soon.  I thought, “I’ll give it another week…after all, I’ll take him in, he’ll be fine and I’ll have to pay $200 for no reason.”

The fur pulling not only didn’t stop but it progressed to the point where he was bruising himself.  My cat was bald with bruises all over his back-o.k., time to pay attention.

Of course the vet appointment was this week…the week I had a zillion projects due but a girl has to do what a girl has to do. Luckily, my vet office has WiFi…have you noticed that?  Lots of doctor’s offices have WiFi so we work-from-home telecommuters can drag our laptop to the appointment and get something done while we wait.

So while I typed away my poor kitty meowed…worried what would happen next. I’m not going to drag you through the entire appointment, but it turns out my cat has a mental disorder and is now on kitty Prozac. He was fitted for an e-collar or the dreaded cone of shame to prevent any further damage.

Now Soho bumps into walls because his depth of perception is skewed and is probably flying away on his kitty Prozac.  On one hand I’m thankful that nothing was seriously wrong with the little guy but it reminds me that his 19 year-old personality will never change.  His senior checkup went well, with the vet commenting on the strength of his heart. So he’ll live forever…on his kitty Prozac…like the grumpy old uncle with more staying power than any other family member.

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Telecommuting Helps to Reduce Our Carbon Footprint

China emits more carbon emissions than any other country in the world.  In 2008, China surpassed the U.S. as the top global polluter.  Since then, China has committed to taking drastic measures to reduce its carbon footprint and has invested millions of dollars in developing green technology. According to a recent report released by China’s telecom sector, China cut emissions by nearly 50 million tons in 2008 by increasing telecommuting.

The global power’s latest strategy to reduce carbon emissions is to get more vehicles off the streets by increasing its telecommuting workforce. Virtual meetings and an increase in digital records have all contributed to a lower emissions rate.  The study projected that the increase in telework would continue to benefit China’s green initiative and could cut emissions by 600 million tons by 2030.

China is just one of many countries to go green with telecommuting.  According to recent reports by the U.S. Department of Commerce, more than 34 million Americans work remotely.  This figure is expected to rise to almost 63 million by the year 2016.  This shift to a virtual business model will reduce the U.S.’s carbon pollution by 25%.  BT Global Services, a network provider and IT services company, recently instituted a “Work Anywhere” policy.  The program allows employees the flexibility to work remotely.  BT claims that the program has reduced its emissions by nearly 58%.  Proponents of the program have lauded it as a “way to save fuel, ease the strain of transportation infrastructure and increase efficiencies.”  But companies don’t need to institute a comprehensive telecommuting program to save energy.  Studies show that if individuals work at home least 1.6 days out of the week, we could save 1.35 billion gallons of fuel and cut carbon emissions by 26 billion pounds a year.

So in short, telecommuting saves employers money, saves employees time and could potentially save the planet. For more information on the Telecom report, click here.

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Tips for Switching Careers

According to a recent article in Money Magazine, at least half of American workers are dissatisfied with their current careers.  These disgruntled employees are using layoffs and budget cuts as an opportunity to pursue their passions and search for new career paths.  Switching jobs can be challenging.  However, here are some tips on how to make a smooth transition into a new and rewarding career.

Figure Out How Your Skills Translate

It’s not impossible to get a job as a development director of a non-profit if you have a background in music education.  However, you need to be able to show your prospective employer how the skills you learned in your former profession will help you in your new field.  Figure out what your strengths are and sell those to your would-be boss.

Network

Network, network.  If you’re looking for a new job in a new field the best way to get legit job leads is to network.  Ask around - not just your former business colleagues, but neighbors, friends and family members.  Use social media to contact people in your prospective profession.  Cast a wide net and don’t be afraid to call in a few favors.

Get the Skills You Need

Some professions require you to complete certain certifications or training courses before you jump in.  Even if your prospective career doesn’t require you to complete job training, having a few courses under your belt may make you a more attractive job candidate.  Determine what skills successful employees have and try to enroll in low-cost accelerate training courses.

Get Your Finances in Order

The reality is that if you’re switching careers, you’re probably facing a sizable pay cut.  It’s important to get your finances in order before you make the leap.  Do your research and compare your current salary to what you’ll make in your ideal career.  Make adjustments to your budget and try living on less for a few months before you make the switch.

Turn Your Passion into a Career

Looking for a new career?  Try to find a way to turn your hobbies and pursuits into your new profession.  Whether you like to fish, write sonnets, scrapbook or teach swimming lessons at the local pool, you can find a way to make your passions a full-time career.

For more info on switching careers, click here.

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