Hello - this is my first entry for the blog. The topic I have chosen is something that has changed my way of life.
Till some time back (abt 4 yrs back) I was also in a 8-5 job. I loved my job but the 3 hrs daily commute was killing me.
Then I was offered this job for a company which is in the USA. I hadn't met my future employee - just talked to him on phone and had communicated through email and chat. He was offering me more than my current salary - which was a bonus in addition to the flexibility of working from home. I was a bit apprehensive about leaving a secure job but still i took up the offer. And I am so happy that I did. I have been working for this company now for 4 years - as a salaried employee.
People still find it surprising that I work totally from home.
Telecommuting is a way of life in the western countries, but in India - it is still to catch. Why?? Are the Indians not trusty enough to work in a telecommute environment?? For a telecommute relationship to work I think the most important requirements are:
1. Total trust - from both sides.
2. Commitment
3. Focus - It is too easy to get distracted when you know that the boss is not going to pop-in and look at what you are doing
4. And of course - infrastructure. You can not tell your employer that you couldnt work because there was a power failure for 6 hrs, or the ISP was not working. you need to have backups and backups of backups ready - just in case.