Working from home: four pros and four cons

In-house lawyers usually like to work some days from their house. Telecommuting has obvious advantages: flexible working hours, less lost time in commutes, lower parking and gas costs, and, arguably higher productivity. These reasons in favor or working at home come from a study by Lexmark International, cited in Bus. Law Today, Vol. 17, Jan./Feb. 2008 at 6.

Drawbacks to the arrangement also surfaced from the survey. The top three included “working more hours overall, dealing with frustrating technology issues, and feeling isolated from coworkers.” Another one I would add: not knowing which location has that book, report, paper or tool you need (See my posts of Jan. 3, 2008 on how to make a success of telecommuting; and May 30, 2006 for several references cited.).