This is a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately.  It’s really weighing on my mind.  For the last two years I have officed out of my home.  I work from the living room, kitchen table, my bed, or home office answering calls, helping clients, and running my business.  I love the freedom.  I can work when and how I want, but it comes at a price.

That price is a combination of factors:

• Loneliness.  I work with clients mostly over the phone and internet, but there are times I miss the office banter and conversations one has in the office spaces.  Social media allows me to stay engaged with others, but there is something to be said for looking someone in the eye and talking about sports or their family in casual conversation.

• Work/Life.  Because my office is my home I have a tendency to work like a crazy fool.  It’s my husband’s birthday this week, he’s also working from home and I feel like we’re missing family conversations that don’t happen with my eyes glued to my laptop computer.

• Distractions.  I alluded to these distractions in “The Domestic Man” post I also wrote this week.  Because I work at home, I can’t escape things like my messy kitchen or toys scattered on the floor.  It’s hard to tune these out.  I’m compelled to pick up and clean up instead of getting to work.

• No Formal Office.  There are times when a prospective client wants to meet with me to discuss a project.  There are times when a coffee shop just isn’t enough.

One of my favorite fellow bloggers is Chris Wilson who is also located in Oklahoma City.  While his blog focuses on digital marketing strategies for businesses, many of his posts are relevant to those in the job hunt as well as the human resource industry.  A recent post of his discusses, a revealing Slide Share presentation by Jeff Brenman of Apollo Ideas discussing  the future of the workplace.

With Chris and Jeff’s posts in mind, it is important for us to understand that how we as the employer and employees view and see the workplace is changing.  And because of this what companies are looking for in candidates is also changing.  How will you as a job seeker and me as a human resource business professional adapt?

• Transparency. Your activities both inside and outside of the office will be tracked. Everything you do and say both online and offline can and will effect your company’s future success.  For businesses, this is certainly scary stuff which is why having a clear vision of who you are, your company is, and what the rules are is especially important.
• Flat. Your work location won’t matter.  Offices for the most part will become the thing of the past.  Skype, Videoconferencing, and streaming video will be the future of the way in which we work.  If your company has an office space, it will most likely be shared, a term called coworking where creative people often outside of your company work in a shared workspace.  Working from home will be the norm.
• ROWE with me. Companies like Best Buy have been using the ROWE for years with great success.  ROWE stands for Results Oriented Work Environment.  Environments like these are ideal for the global world we live in and offer flexible hours, employee satisfaction, and a focus on results.  Imagine taking Wednesday off to attend your child’s school play and spending that evening in the virtual office without having to take a vacation day or feeling guilty if you didn’t.
• On demand. One of the down sides to this new world of work is that because work is flexible and results based it is also always changing.  Employees and businesses will have to learn to quickly make solid business decisions while also understanding that because change is constant so will the work load and hours required to do your job.  Employees will begin to work on a more contract and consultancy basis to allow businesses to better adapt to the changing needs of the business world and marketplace.