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Working from Home
Maria L Watkins BSc. C.Eng. MIEE
This paper discusses how the advances of
modern technology have greatly enlarged the
possibilities for a number of people who either
need or wish to work fiom home. The variety
of professions as well as the skills, importance
of the work and remuneration for such tasks
has significantly increased in the last few
years. The availability as well as the size and
cost of the equipment needed to perform
satisfactorily the variety of work have altered
so that the option of working from home is
now available to many, who previously could
not contemplate such an option.
There are many reasons why anybody wishes
to work fiom home either on a full time basis
or occasionally. This option used to be both
difficult and costly but is no longer so. There
are still a number of obstacles to overcome
and it is expected that new developments in the
attitudes of employers and technological
innovations will make the task of working
from home both easier and more acceptable.
The public may well, after a time consider the
home a normal workplace, as it used to be
before the industrial revolution. Equipment is
getting steadily cheaper, more efficient and
easier to manage. The attitude of the prospec-
tive worker and his or her partner is changing
slowly so that fewer objections are raised to
the change in lifestyle.
On behalf of Ferranty seven students,
under supervision of two professors fiom
the University carried out extensive interviews
in Maidenhead, at both terminals of the railway
stations and in the homes of the commuters as
well as at their places of work. The results
were somewhat surprising. The major objec-
tions came fiom the wives who in general were
of the opinion that they do not relish the idea
of having their husband at home all the time.
The general verdict was that they married for
better or worse, but not for lunch. They had
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0 7803 5803 1/00/$10.0002000 IEEE
visions of having to provide teas and coffees all
day long and that their own life would be
completely disrupted.
Surprisingly firms seemed much more
amenable and had visions of saving money on
the rather expensive accommodation in
London. As long as the worker was available
fiom time to time to come into town for
consultation, firms were of the opinion that the
scheme would work. However the most
popular option seemed to be a mixture of
working fiom home 2 or 3 days a week and
coming to the firm the other days. This way the
fjrm could arrange for offices to be shared;
travel would be reduced and congestion would
be lessened. (I am not sure if sharing offices
would work in practice.)
Ferranty’s interest was in supplying the
electronic equipment necessary in making the
possibility of working &om home a reality.
However the scheme never materialized and is
still in abeyance, but a special office building
was built in Maidenhead. This has the
necessary electronic equipment and a resident
office manager who takes messages, does the
filing etc.
Working fiom home has been a resounding
success with a number of computer firms such
as F-International. This specializes in computer
based projects on which a variety of women
work fiom home. These are often highly skilled
women who due to family commitments, be it
small children or aging relatives, are unable to
leave their homes for long periods.
I therefore decided to interview eleven people
(5 men and 6 women) all working fiom home in
order to investigate the benefit and drawbacks
of such an arrangement and to see what type of
men or women chose to use their home as their
principal place of work. These persons have
different professions thus giving different
overviews and meeting different problems.

Interviews
Interview with K.M.
In 1941 K.M. was recruited fiom college to
work on Radar and later went to Farnborough
working on developments in microwaves.
Later still he joined Cinema-television
developing test equipment. After that he was
recruited by “electrom” working fiom home
solving all sorts of industrial problems in
electronics, such as temperature
measurements, also moisture measurements for
industry in India, where jute was produced.
These balls of jute were made heavier by
wetting as the producers were paid by
weight. Most of these designs were one offs
and hence of no interest to larger firms. In
some cases he was testing apparatus of other
designers.
Eventually he moved to Crossfield
electronics where he stayed for 25 years
working on electronics in the printing industry
worldwide.
Technology changed and he was made
redundant. He then worked fiom home for
Thom EMI improving colour printing and now
for a small firm on a variety of automatic
door opening devices by designing printed
circuit boards. He always works fiom his
spare bedroom at home. The door opening and
closing devices can be for the Portsmouth
dockyard doors which weigh 20 tons or can be
security doors for banks, aristocratic homes
and government departments as well as
swimming pool roofs. Always one-off
devices.
K.M. says that the advantages and
disadvantages of working fiom home depend
on the individual. It suits loners who can
discover how to solve problems, by looking up
information in the relevant literature, such as
the Patent Office etc.
The advantages are that you can work at your
own speed and you do not have to report
progress constantly. It suits persons who like
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to be left on their own to get on with the job.
Jobs can be more varied and interesting. It gives
opportunities to use one’s talents.
Disadvantages are that you have no others to
discuss issues with or colleagues in similar jobs.
There is no help with pension schemes or health
insurance. And most of all there is regular
income and payment may be long delayed. You
will also need equipment and space to work in.
However he enjoys working fiom home.
Interview with B.D.
B.D. is a psychodynamic councillor. She has
practiced for the last 9 years with the NHS and
private clients. Each session takes 50 minutes
and she sees each client once or twice a week.
All talk about their problems, such as depression,
patterns of relationships, addiction, phobias,
bereavement etc.
Skills: Special training is required such as a
diploma in counselling as well as ongoing
training to keep up with new developments.
Equipment: A room that is always the same (a
therapeutic environment). The room has to be
non-distracting and private. It must not be
overlooked or overheard. It should be
comfortable and non-clinical. A word processor
with internet access. Filing facilities, telephone
with answer phone and a fhx machine.
Advantages: One does not have to go
anywhere and no travel time is lost. There are
no expenses for special premises. There is better
control of the environment. It is easier to switch
roles from councillor to mother or cook. Some
clients definitely like coming to the home as it
makes them welcome and is not sterile.
Disadvantages: There is a rush in preparing the
premises. There can be interruptions. Care has
to be taken to keep all records private. This
restricts the use of the room for other purposes.
The client may find out more about the
councillor than is desirable. Cooperation fiom
the family is essential.
Payments can be irregular. Most clients are
obtained by referrals and recommendation.
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Interview with D.M. order and writes articles of general interest.

Skills: Excellent typing as well as audio typing
D.M. works ffom home for the commission and shorthand is necessary for her present job.
on Looted Art, trying to trace art looted by the Good organizationalabilities are also required.
Nazis before and during the last war. The Equipment necessary: all the usual ofice
commission is a charity and D.M. helps equipment and good access to the internet e-mail
in searching out a variety of records on the via a good p.c. and a reliable dictating machine.
internet in an attempt to find out where these A suitable room with a special telephone line and
looted art objects are and trying to get them answerphone.
back to their lawful owners. She interviews Advantages: It is useful when looking after the
claimants and others to get as much children and the elderly parents. It is more
information as possible about when and where comfortable as one is in control of heating and
these looted art objects are and trying to get ventilation. One can listen to music if one wants.
them back to their lawful owners. She There is considerably more flexibility. There are
interviews claimants and others to get as fewer distractions and one can work late at night
much information as possible about where if one wishes.
and when things were taken. Disadvantages: Lack of status. There is a
Skills: A very good knowledge of art temptation to become slack. Employers can work
objects, such as paintings, sculpture and erratically. It is necessary to have self-
object d’art. Good computer skills and how to discipline as there is a lack of stimulus and one
search the internet. Skill in interview may feel isolated.
techniques. Ability to keep records. Advice: Keep the brain alert by attending
Equipment: A computer with internet access courses and visiting exhibitions and museums.
with printer. Fax machine, a telephone. Watch how you look to keep up your selfesteem.
Access to libraries such as the British Library,
the Will library (Courtadd) the Warbeck Interview with R.R.
Institute and the website for unclaimed goods.
A room suitable for interviewing claimants. College Advisor
Advantages: Flexibility, not having to
travel. Working within your own time. R.R. has been a college advisor for 18 months.
Interesting human contracts. Satisfaction His job is to interview prospective college
when anything is recovered. students for the Distance Learning College and to
Disadvantages: Space needed for interviews. decide which courses, if any, are the most suitable
Lots of distractions at home. Delays in for them.
remuneration. Skills: A good knowledge of College offers and
the knowledge required to succeed in the courses
Interview with S.R as well as an ability to judge the students
motivation.
S.R. is a law secretary and has been working Advantages: Pleasant feeling when a candidate
fiom home entirely for the past 18 months. is enrolled, fiee time can be arranged to suit
Before she had 4 different part-time jobs. family requirements. The atmosphere is usually
She left work with other part time pleasant and fiiendly.
employers as she found she was doing too Car and equipment, such as telephone,
many different types of work at once and computer, photocopier and word processing
found it disconcerting. Now as well as acting software and Fax machine supplied by the college
as a secretary she also keeps the archives in as well as petrol costs.
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Disadvantages: Six to seven hours a week Interview with S. C.

spent on the road visiting candidates. Frequent
traffic jams. Time wasted on unsuitable S.C. has been working fiom home for 22 years
candidates. and making bespoke curtains for 15 years.
Skills: A knowledge of sewing using
Interview with A.D. industrial machining. A knowledge of design and
pattern making as well as cutting. She studied at
Financial Assistance Consultancy the Luton College of Art.
Equipment: A large 2.5m x 1.5m table and
The consultancy helps small businesses with room to put it in. Good sewing machine. A
arranging their fmances, getting the necessary heavy duty iron. Ladders and a tool box
facilities fiom banks and other agencies, including a cordless drill. A car, telephone and a
making sure that there are enough funds for stock of lining, interlining, curtain hooks and
immediate needs and assisting with budgets as cushion pads. Storage for above.
well as tax returns etc. He does not deal with Advantages: Flexible time, no travelling to
small tradesmen or cottage industries in the old work. One can work whenever the domestic
sense. situation permits.
Dr. A.D. is an expert in the above fields, Disadvantages: One is always on call. There is
having worked for many years as partner in a a lot of mess. Sometimes the hours of work are
large financial f a . He is about 52 years old very long. The pay is small (app. E12.5 to €15
and has worked fiom home for the last 3 years. per hour). Sometimes it is difficult to know how
In his opinion the required skills needed for much to charge. It is necessary to work most
working fiom home are: evenings and weekends. It takes about 3 visits to
Self discipline, knowledge of the profession, the site before clients place the order. There is a
computer literacy and social skills. lack of companionship.
The advantages are:
Low overheads, no time and money wasted on Interview with E. W.
commuting during the rush hour.
The disadvantages are: E.W. is an Internship Consultant. She has
There is a fiagmentation of social units and no practised this profession for 14 years.
social provision. It is necessary to keep Skills: Considerable administrative skills and a
oneself technically up to date. This is more knowledge of office techniques are required.
difficult as there is no formal interaction as Most important are skills at networking, cold
would take place in an ofice when one can calling, marketing and an ability to talk to various
pick up lots of information fiom colleagues. It personnel. One needs knowledge of university
is necessary to have a specialty in which one is systems, in the U.K. and abroad and the ability to
an expert. Another difficulty is the lack of make and keep contacts within various
long term contracts and sometimes the wait for universities. It is necessary to be familiar with
payment. counselling and time tabling.
Advice: Have a definite division between Equipment: Space for usual office equipment
home and work. This means a separate room and filing of documents. Usual office equipment.
devoted only to work. Put on a suit, go to Advantages: No travelling, flexible time, less
exhibitions and find up to date equipment, distractions, no office politics. This results in
attend professional meetings and conferences. greater productivity. Being your own boss gives
Actively seek new clients by networking and if you the ability to control the amount of work to
necessary have an attractive brochure. take on. It is more relaxed.
Disadvantages: The family takes you for

granted. Isolation. Nobody to discuss
problems with. One can become stale. The
temptation is to do everything fiom home and
to miss out on exercise and going out. The ten-
dency to work for long hours and not to know
when to stop.
Interview with L.M.
L.M. is a Business Writer. She has been
working &om home since 1989 h l l time as she
prefers it to working in an office. This way she
can work for a number of papers and maga-
zines.
Skills: One has to be very organized, it is
necessary to know how to collect information
and how best to write it. It is necessary to
know the style of the publication for which one
writes as they all have different requirements.
Persistence is required to track down persons
for interviews and patience for tracking down
persons. One has to know how to find
information which may be difficult to get, but
the internet is a great help.
Equipment: The usual office equipment
including e-mail, fhx machine and a recording
device for the telephone so that telephone
interviews can be recorded verbatim. A room
solely devoted to work and a car for visits
outside London.
Advantages: Independence. Ability to work
for a variety of publications. Freedom and
flexibility. Money earned is your own. No
dressing up. There is greater variety of work
and a possibility of travel. It is good for
learning. The job is so uncertain that there
is no uncertainty. It is nice to have a tele-
phone fiiend in the same line to whom one can
chat during the day and discuss current prob-
lems (a sort of tea break).
Disadvantages: The homebound effect.
Balance can be difficult. Lack of exercise.
Too much stuff and lack of space to store it.
No easy access to a library. A private pension
is required.
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Interview with ?J D.
V.D. is an Engineering Consultant and chartered
engineer, a member of the IEE and a Fellow of
the Institute of no destructive testing. He is a
specialist in corrosion correction and corrosion
protection.
Skills: Knowledge of the extension of
corrosion on structures and instrumentation.
Knowledge of safety inspection and non-
destructive testing. Computer skills for W.P. and
technical calculations, computer diagrams and
graphs as well as illustrations.
Equipment: Computer with accessories,
telephone, fax machine. Good access to the
libraries (such as the Patent Office).
Advantages: No interruptions, the ability to do
it in one’s own way. Not so much travelling.
One can work long hours when necessary
including weekends.
Disadvantages: Space required for an office. It
may be difficult to set up a network.
Interview with P.W.
P.W. was an engineering management consultant
working fiom home for a large electrical
engineering firm after a number of years when he
worked fiom the firms offices.
Skills: Ability to investigate how engineers of
different sorts and in a great variety of jobs
worked and suggesting improvements in their
practices for greater efficiency. A good
knowledge of the type of engineering the fitm
carries out and their work ethics. Computer
literacy.
Equipment: A good computer with a laser
printer, fax machine, telephone with answerphone
and space for the office, somewhere to keep
records. A car to visit various sites of the firm.
Advantages: No need to travel to Rugby every
day fiom London, but can go to the site directly.
Disadvantages: Space has to be found for an
office. Nobody to answer the telephone except
the wife.

Consultants Conference
On Saturday 27th May there was a small
meeting of IEE consultants in London to
discuss the difficulties in running such a
business and to suggest remedies. 10% of
those present work from home largely because
it is cheaper but also because they frnd it more
convenient. It creates difficulties with
accounting especially in apportioning costs
between domestic and business expenditure but
helps if there are cash flow problems. Apart
fiom this there seems to be no difference
depending on the location of the business,
provided adequate means of communication
are installed.
Conclusions
A group of people who find it useful to work
fiom home are consultants. This covers a great
variety of occupations as can be seen from the
interviews. Consulting often involves long and
tedious searches as well as laborious
calculations and production of suitable
presentations for the client is best carried out at
home, providing the necessary equipment is
available. This is true of consultants of all
kinds, be they professionals at the end of their
career, or those who have retired, but wish to
carry on and impart their expertise to others, or
even those who have been made redundant and
who need to continue in their profession to
keep up their self-esteem and to earn extra
revenues.
I found a large variety of professions and
occupations who are finding it more and more
convenient to work from home especially as
the cost of providing an office in one’s spare
room, living room or even bedroom becomes
easier. The essential equipment is mostly a
desk or portable computer, access to the
internet, a printer, a photocopier, storage for
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fdes and documents and an answerphone. The
exception is K.M. and S.C. who both require a
variety of tools. It is also necessary to have a
circle of acquaintances who will help to direct
work to the home worker. An attractive and
informative brochure, describing the area in
which work is done will also be an advantage.
The great disadvantage of working from home
is the isolation which may be faced on the
worker and the lack of contact with persons in
the same field. It is therefore possible to miss
useful new developments, to become out of date
and most of all there is the possibility of
becoming disillusioned and of feeling out of the
vibrant circle of achievers. Rearranging the
work so that one visits clients regularly and
having extensive discussions with them about
the project in hand will possibly help. Another
remedy would be to attend meetings of the
relevant professional circles or societies and
institutions as well as attendance of conferences
with the possible submissions of papers
describing an interesting topic. Leading a
discourse on the triumphs and pitfalls of recent
problems will undoubtedly provide a stimulus
for the worker fiom home.
Universities and professional institutions
should take note of these new developments and
provide courses as well as vacation meetings and
give active encouragement, help and continuous
professional education facilities to this growing
group of professional workers who need help to
adjust to this new aspect of society.
References:
[ l ] Worcester Polytechnic Institute Mass. USA
Project report 1998 “Workingfiom home”
Advisor Professor J.P. van Alstyne
[2] Worcester Polytechnic Institute Mass. USA
Project report 1999 “Telecommunicating:
Neighbourhood Work Centers ’’ Advisor J.S.
Demetry