Introduction xvii
1. Where We Work xviii
2. Writing from Experience xix
3. Consulting the Experts xxi
4. Why Work from Home? xxi
4.1 Employment opportunities xxii
4.2 Family obligations xxii
4.3 Medical reasons xxiv
4.5 Financial xxv
4.6 Job perks xxvi
5. Bottom Line xxvii
Section 1: Finding Your Way 1
1 What Does “Work from Home” Mean? 3
1. Remote Work 3
2. Entrepreneurial Work 5
vi Work from Home Zone
3. Hybrid Work 7
4. Full Time or Part Time? 8
2 Will the Work-at-Home Life Work for You? 11
1. Transportation 11
2. Productivity 12
3. Distractions 12
4. Boundaries and Transitions 13
5. Personal Needs 13
6. Meals and Refreshments 13
7. Health and Wellness 14
8. Fitness 14
9. Wardrobe 14
10. Savings and Expenses 15
11. Household Needs 15
12. Family Needs 15
13. Professional Opportunities 16
14. Communications 16
15. Social Connections 17
16. Technical Issues 17
17. Societal Perceptions 18
Section 2: Let’s Be Practical 21
3 Workspace 23
1. A Room of One’s Own? 24
2. Environment Design 25
2.1 Ergonomics 25
2.2 Lighting (and vision care) 27
2.3 Interior Design 28
2.4 Sound 29
3. Accessibility 32
4. Hot Desks and Co-working Spaces 33
5. Meeting Space 33
5.1 When you need more space 33
Contents vii
4 Technology 35
1. Consider Your Hardware 36
1.1 Computers 36
1.2 Mobile phones 37
1.3 Cameras 38
1.4 Peripherals 39
2. Don’t Forget the Software 41
2.1 Office applications 41
2.2 Data storage 42
2.3 Audio, video, and image editing 42
2.4 Website and content management 43
2.5 Antivirus, malware, and security software 43
2.6 Industry-specific software 46
3. Online Access 46
5 Communication 49
1. Virtual Meetings 49
2. Live Video 52
2.1 Start with the basics 52
2.2 Find your gear 52
2.3 Consider distractions 53
2.4 Look after yourself 53
2.5 Final steps before you go live 54
3. Messaging Etiquette 55
6 Hygiene, Privacy, Security, and Safety 59
1. Health and Hygiene 59
2. Privacy: Where Are You? 60
3. Home Security 61
4. Fire Safety 62
7 Resources: Time, Talent, and Treasure 65
1. The Time, Talent, and Treasure Trifecta 66
1.1 What about time? 66
1.2 Who has talent? 67
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1.3 Treasure hunt 67
2. Time, Talent, and Treasure Budgets 68
3. What to Do When Resources Are Scarce 68
8 Human Resources and Outside Experts 69
1. Employees and Contractors 70
2. Hiring Help 70
3. Employee Files 71
4. Nondisclosure Agreements 72
5. Using Artificial Intelligence 72
6. Human Resources (HR) Management Skills 72
9 Finance 77
1. Budgets 78
1.1 Revenue 78
1.2 Expenses 79
2. Bookkeeping 82
2.1 Statements 83
2.2 Payroll 84
3. Loans and Grants 84
3.1 Loans 84
3.2 Grants 85
4. Taxes 86
5. Insurance 87
6. Business Banking and Expertise 88
10 Business Travel 89
1. How Often Will You Travel? 90
2. Mobile Office 91
3. Packing List 92
4. Travel Tips 92
11 What (Not) to Wear 99
1. Dress for Your Job 100
2. Consider Video Chat 101
Contents ix
Section 3: Soft Skills 103
12 Boundaries 105
1. Office Hours 105
2. Real or Virtual Commute 106
3. Domestic Distractions 108
4. People Distractions 108
4.1 Children 109
4.2 Adults 111
5. Neighborhood Distractions 112
6. Negotiate Your Boundaries 113
6.1 Negotiation strategies 113
6.2 Negotiation tactics 114
6.3 Best Alternative to a Negotiated
Agreement (BATNA) 114
6.4 Documentation strategies 115
13 Productivity 117
1. Work on Your Workflow 118
2. Be Alert to Distractions 119
3. Have Systems 119
3.1 Time 120
3.2 Tasks 120
3.3 Tools 120
4. Productivity Experts 121
14 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion 123
1. Who’s Underrepresented, Misrepresented, or Missing? 124
2. Lenses for Diversity 125
2.1 Cultural diversity 125
2.2 Genetic diversity 126
2.3 Religious diversity 126
2.4 Age diversity 126
2.5 Ability diversity 127
2.6 Body type and personal expression 127
x Work from Home Zone
2.7 Gender diversity and sexual orientation 127
2.8 Family diversity 127
2.9 Economic diversity 128
3. What to Do? 128
3.1 Diversity statements 129
15 Health and Wellness 131
1. Social-Emotional Wellness 131
2. Mental Health 133
3. Physical Fitness 135
3.1 Movement 135
3.2 Nutrition 137
3.3 Sounds and lights 137
3.4 Sleep 139
4. Look after Yourself 140
Conclusion 141
Download Kit 147
Samples
1 Self-Assessment 19
2 Workspace Design Considerations 30
3 Nondisclosure Agreement 73
4 Work-from-Home Master Checklist 142