The Home Office

Kate Simon gets up in the morning. She eats breakfast. She showers. She gets dressed for work. But she does not leave her house. Kate works at home. These days, many people work at home. They are called “telecommuters.”

Telecommuters don’t commute, or drive, to their jobs. They use computers, telephones, and fax machines to “talk” to their coworkers. Every year, more companies let employees work at home. Some workers, like Kate, enjoy working at home.

“I can choose my hours. I can wear comfortable clothes. And I don’t have to drive or

take a crowded bus every day. It’s cheaper, too. I don’t pay for a bus ride, or buy gas for my car,” says Kate.

Many telecommuters agree with Kate. But David Park does not agree. David was a telecommuter for two years. He missed his coworkers. He had no one to discuss his ideas with. Also, David thinks that telecommuters work more hours. “When you work in an office, your work is finished when you go home. When you work at home, your work is never finished,” says David. “In fact, I often worked on weekends and on vocations, too.”

Telecommuting is not good for everyone. David Park does not work at home anymore. But for some people, like Kate Simon, it’s the best choice.