THE TRUTH ABOUT HOME WORK

It seems employers are continuing to embrace telecommuting. A 2015 report by Worldatwork (a nonprofit human resources association), which surveyed Canadian and American employers, found that 53 percent offered their teams the opportunity to work from home once a week, and 34 percent let full-time employees do it exclusively. Yes, working at home has its perks (read: saving on lunches out and living in pajama bottoms), but a study released last year by the University of Iowa and the University of Texas at Austin confirms what those of us who do it have long suspected: Telecommuting adds hours to the workday (with little to no extra pay) and cuts into personal time because it’s hard to put away that laptop. If this is your situation, don’t fret; you can disconnect when you live where you work. Heather Petherick, a career coach in Calgary, suggests “creating a transition ritual and being accountable to clock out.” Don’t forget to unplug by keeping devices turned off and out of reach after work hours so you’re less likely to check emails or send text messages, she says.