Working from home: Planning for the unexpected

You’ve taken the plunge! Congratulations! You’re working from home now! You know the joys of working passionately into the night on that proposal or concept, knowing that you have the flexibility to catch a few hours of extra sleep or take a nap when you finally run out of steam. You know the fun of setting up your office into the creative space that will stimulate and inspire you. But, what happens … if?

What can go wrong?  Oh let me count the ways…. Consider this: What parts of your job will be harder because you are now teleworking or working in your own business at home?  How will you overcome these obstacles? Have you thought about tech support? Crashes? Know the answers. Because you now don’t have the IT guy on floor 3 to call on. In some cases you might need to purchase tech support. In some cases you might already have help bundled into your purchases. In other cases, you might need to get some training.  Some have high tech solutions – others are simple changes in habit. Be open to ideas.

If you’re running a home based business, double check with your insurance agent what working from home means and if you might need additional coverage. If you are teleworking, make sure you check the policy regarding additional coverage. What does it require?

We’ve all heard the tip to take a picture of everything, to write everything down, etc. this is one time you really SHOULD follow this advice. Every home office or mobile set-up should be photographed and a detailed inventory list  (with serial numbers) provided to the insurance company, or to your manager.

A quick home inspection by a good repairman can save you heartache in the end. Do you have enough electricity to cover your needs? In most houses – probably so. But in my younger, eclectic days I tended to live in old Victorian homes. And while they were full of charm, they were NOT full of electrical supply.  

No one wants to think about security – until you come home from a business trip to find your house has been burglarized.  Security includes many things: from how you handle  information to personal safety. What if the competition’s sales manager moves in next door? Think about document shredding, and how secure your mail is. What if you travel a lot? Is it sensible to come home at 2am to a dark house, alone? Then consider where you park at the airport…. Or do you park at all (ie: take a cab)? Just be a good scout: think it through.

Unexpected events, such as storms or a break-in, can put your data at risk. The first line of defense is best practices, both for home office worker and for road warriors. Backing up hard drives on to removable media or to the corporate network is a necessary procedure. Remember, your files are only as good as your last backup!