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A Fair Telecommuting Budget?

Posted by Cliff on from the dollars-and-sense dept.

homework asks: "Last night, I got a call from my boss asking me to define a budget for me to work from home. What items should I include in the figures so that I can show that the use of my home and my personal equipment can be compensated for fairly. Should I include my salary into the figures? Has any other Slashdot reader been in a similar situations and what was the outcome? Were you treated fairly?"

2 of 38 comments (clear)

  1. Use your network! by Masarand · · Score: 2, Informative
    Fine someone else who is working frok home (preferably in the same organisation) and ask them what they got away with.

    Talk someone in finance (especially if it's a large company.) They will know the rules and will help you prepare something that will make a good impression on your boss.

  2. This is easy by salesgeek · · Score: 4, Informative
    I've got a little experience with this having managed work from home salespeople for a while:

    Internet
    Find out the full cost of the highest speed internet you can get - include the phone line or minimum legal cable rate (that is different than basic cable usually by $15-$20 per month). Get it in writing or an email from the cable or DSL company.

    Phones
    The question here is home phone or cell phone. If your company provides cells, then this issue is dead. If your company doesn't then find out what the 1500 minute per month or better plans cost and submit that for your budget.

    If it's a home phone, Packet 8 and Vonage are great and give you business class features for $29-$39/month. Your boss will like unlimited long distance and the fact that you have real voice mail and the ability to handle multiple calls elegantly.

    Fax
    The question here is do you need to send them or just get them. If you are just getting them, your company's fax server or eFax is great. If you are sending, get a fax machine or multifunction device that can work without the computer being turned on.

    Supplies
    Ink cartridges are expensive. Figure out how much printing you will do and add 25% for crappy inkjet scammage (i.e cleaning mode & so on). Then calculate ink jet carts+$20/mo for supplies (pens, paper, etc...)

    Up Front.
    You might get $150 up front for furniture if you ask nice. You'll also need to buy a multifunction/fax machine ($150 for a good one), pay any set up fees for DSL/Cable, purchase a good router if you don't have one ($50).

    So here's the deal:
    <b>Up Front</b>
    Furniture $150
    MFC $150
    CABLE START $ 90
    Packet8 Phone $ 60
    <b>Total $450</b>

    <b>Monthly</b>
    Supplies $ 35
    Cable Internet$ 62 (this includes minimum legal cable)
    Packet 8 $ 35
    <b>total $132</b>
    --
    -- $G