Working from home? Make sure your insurance is in good shape

If you have ever decided that you cannot face the drudgery of a long commute into work and instead phoned your boss to say you are too sick to come into the office (in between a fit of finely honed fake coughing), you are not the first. Nor will you be the last!

A survey undertaken in the UK has shown that five million Brits have done the same thing.

The Harris Interactive poll has also revealed that almost half of people say commuting has a significant impact on their job satisfaction, while one-third considered the commute very carefully when choosing their current job.

“Never before has it been more desirable for employers to put policies in place to allow employees to travel during non-peak hours or work from home," says Robyn Farrell, managing director of 1st for Women Insurance Brokers.

She adds: “This kind of consideration can undoubtedly increase employee satisfaction, without having a negative impact on the bottom line.”

With the soaring cost of petrol, intensifying traffic jams and ever-increasing work and personal demands, the reality of being able to work from home has never before been so appealing. Of those surveyed who said they did not have the option of working from home, 27% said that if they were given the technology they believed they could work effectively from home.

“The idea of being able to use your working hours more effectively and being more flexible with family and friends is certainly inviting,” says Farrell. She adds that more and more people are not only requesting to work more from home in their current office-based jobs, a large number are opting to start entirely new businesses from their homes.

1st for Women Insurance offers tips for setting up a home business

Whether you are setting up a home-based business from inception, or you are simply opting to move your current job from the office to your abode, there are certain tips to making your choice as successful as possible.

“Start by establishing boundaries - this will help you strike a healthy work/life balance,” advises Farrell.

• Create an area within your home where you can work. Have a phone line installed for business use or a work cellphone, so that you can choose when to accept calls from clients and suppliers.
• Ensure that you have the right equipment. Buy a good desk with proper work space and a comfortable chair that provides back support. Your computer should provide good performance and have all the software that is needed in order for you to do your job efficiently.
• Have formal processes and procedures in place. This includes everything from standardising record-keeping and paying invoices to logging time with customers and mileage for business trips. This will ensure that you always have the information you that you need when you need it.
• Establish and keep office hours. Although working from home allows you the benefit of flexibility, you still need to put in the required time to do your work properly. Setting a typical schedule for working in your office will help you stay focussed and minimises distractions.

Be properly insured

Before you set up a home office, it’s vital to contact your insurer to establish if your home contents insurance policy adequately covers your new office equipment and new additions to the home, and the type of business insurance cover you will need.

1st for Women Insurance Brokers understands that different businesses need different cover, which is why each business insurance policy is tailored to the specific insurance needs of your business.

Farrell concludes: “Enjoy your space as much as possible. Using it creatively, thoughtfully and responsibly will ensure you reap the rewards of being able to choose how you work.”