Work from Home

This is the 7th month since i join a partnership with friends opening a company. Most of the time i work from home. A lot of people will ask, and has asked me this question : "Are your business SOHO?" "No", i answered. In fact, i have a office at Kota Damansara.

"Then why don't you go to office?" Well, the reason is that i have everything i need in my house to do all my job. My laptop, broadband internet access and my mobile phone.

Able to work from home, is a very attractive offer from a company to its employee. A lot of people would want to work from home these days. Imagine you can work right in front of your desk at the comfort of your own house. No traffic jam, no people problem with your colleagues, etc... And in my case, i get to cut down a lot of my expenditure when i work from home. Simple maths, if i go to office:

1. Car petrol : 90KM x RM 0.13 = RM 11.70
2. Toll fee : RM 1.60
   
3. Lunch at office : RM 3.00 (economic rice + 2 veges + don't ever think to have curry chicken/fried chicken/anything that is meat)
   (i take oat/milo + biscuit/bread for lunch when i work from home)

All these added up to RM 15.72 daily. For people that has "negative" balance in bank account every month, spending RM 15.72 daily + 2 hours driving to get to office, is obviously not a good idea.

But, there are some drawbacks when you work from home

1. Communication with partners will have to via online chatting, emailing or sometimes phone calls (a surge in your mobile phone bill).
2. When you work from home, you are utilizing the utilities such as electricity and waters. So expect some increase in your utility bills.
   
3. The synergy of working together with partners is not strong.
   

I guess the third problem is a major problem in the long run, and could jeopardize the relationship between you and your partners.

So what you guys think? Working from home? Think again, and discuss with your partners first!