This guide addresses various issues related to working from home: we will see what the objectives and ambitions are contained in the law of 22 May n.81 ( SG ), in particular, we will focus on the phrase: ” encourage flexible arrangements in the times and places of work “.
Furthermore, you’ll learn how to find work from home online, how to create your own business , and some examples of jobs and side jobs you can do from home.
Table of Contents
WORKING FROM HOME: A COMPLETE GUIDE. 1
WORKING FROM HOME: What Workers Think 2
TELEWORK OR SMARTWORK? DIFFERENCES. 2
#1 Learn about company rules 3
Online Jobs: International Portals 4
Online Jobs: Italian Portals 5
CONCLUSIONS: WORKING FROM HOME. 7
Working from home: What workers think
A survey conducted by CISCO shows that Italians have welcomed the possibility of working from home . In particular:
- Nearly 9 out of 10 workers would like both the option to choose whether to work from home or go to the office, and would like to manage their own working hours;
- Over half of workers want to maintain the autonomy gained through smart working;
- The improved work-life balance has meant that over half of Italians have found more time to devote to physical exercise.
- 41% of those interviewed do not think their employer will allow them to continue working from home in the future.
- More than 8 out of 10 workers believe it is the company’s responsibility to provide the technological tools needed to work remotely.
TELEWORK OR SMARTWORK? DIFFERENCES
Although working from home is a way of doing work that has only recently become part of the lives of most workers, it actually began to develop in the 1970s in the United States and then spread to Europe as well.
At a regulatory level, the aforementioned early forms of homeworking were regulated in Europe through:
The inter-confederal agreement on teleworking ( PDF ).
From a formal standpoint, therefore, there is a substantial difference between teleworking and smart working . For simplicity’s sake, we can say that while teleworking simply involves the transfer of tasks, which are performed from home rather than the office, with smart working, the legislator has taken a step further.
In recent forms of agile working, in fact, the assumption is to allow the worker to achieve a better balance between private life and working life , a balance often defined with the English expression: work-life balance.
WORKING WITH THE INTERNET
Working online via the internet is now a common practice for both employed and self-employed workers.
How to work successfully online and from home?
Working from home isn’t like going to the office. There are many differences, starting with the physical location where activities take place (the home), which needs to be redesigned to allow for effective work.
Let’s now see what precautions to take to work from home.
#1 Learn about company rules
For those who work alone, this problem doesn’t exist, but for an employee, the primary objective is to learn which technological tools the company uses to carry out and coordinate work.
For example, you may need video conferencing software like Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or work management apps like Asana or Trello.
#2 Workspace
Working online means you no longer have a comfortable office at your disposal but need to create a suitable space within your home.
The advice is to find a well-lit, quiet area of the house that is used only for work.
#3 Internet Connection
Online work requires a high-performance internet connection. If your children are attending online school or playing PlayStation games in the same apartment, and other household members are watching a movie on Netflix, you may experience slowdowns.
It is therefore a good idea to take two precautions: make sure you have a fast internet connection and connect your PC to the network using an Ethernet cable.
#4 Few distractions
Working from home often brings with it numerous distractions: the neighbor’s dog barking, appliances running, children. All these distractions can compromise productivity.
It’s a good idea, therefore, to make sure you have a quiet place available before accepting a remote job offer.
#5 Social relationships
One of the downsides of working from home is social interaction. Working from home means losing human contact with colleagues.
The advice is to set aside some time during the day to meet and spend time with loved ones and friends to alleviate the feeling of loneliness that can strike during the workday.
#6 Defined times
Online work, or more precisely, Smart Work, has the advantage of being able to be organized independently.
It’s the worker who chooses how many hours and at what times of the day to work. It may seem like a dream, but it’s best not to get caught up in a vortex that involves simply doing the job.
We recommend setting your hours, not making yourself available at all hours of the day or night, and ultimately pursuing a healthy work-life balance, otherwise burnout (work-related stress) will soon set in.
LOOKING FOR WORK FROM HOME
Finding a job has always required a good deal of commitment and determination. The internet has greatly facilitated the ability to find a job quickly.
Today, all you have to do is log on to one of the many online job portals and browse the job ads that best match your skills and ambitions.
Where to look for a work from home job?
Our advice is to review the online job postings. Job search portals can be divided into two broad categories.
On the one hand, there are large, mostly American, portals that are a vast repository of job advertisements from private companies and human resources selection agencies.
On the other hand, there are Italian portals, perhaps less visible, but which often contain information and advertisements that are difficult to find elsewhere.
Let’s now see the best sites for finding work from home:
Online Jobs: International Portals
#1 LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/)
When thinking about work, you can’t help but mention LinkedIn, a platform that on the one hand allows you to look for a job from home but which is also an excellent opportunity to create a job , as it has many features to showcase your skills: discussion groups, specific subscription plans, thousands of recruiters looking for talent.
#2 Indeed (https://it.indeed.com/)
The American platform Indeed has been around for over 15 years and is accessible from more than 60 countries around the world.
It contains tens of thousands of ads, including numerous opportunities to work from home.
Furthermore, don’t underestimate the possibility of uploading your CV so that employers and recruiters can contact you if possible.
#3 Monster (https://www.monster.it/)
Monster is another historic portal founded in the United States in 1994. Similar to the previous one, here too it is possible to view thousands of ads that allow you to send your application and start working online immediately.
Online jobs: Italian portals
#1 Cercalavoro.it (https://www.cercalavoro.it/)
The portal features job advertisements, career advice, specific information on the world of work, and training opportunities.
For a complete overview of possible online jobs , regulatory aspects, the presence of work-from-home jobs , and the steps to take to create your own business, you’ll find all the relevant information on the portal.
#2 White Work (https://www.biancolavoro.it/)
News, announcements, self-employment, and competitions are just some of the main topics covered on the Bianco Lavoro portal.
Another portal you absolutely must visit to find a job from home.
#3 jobbydoo (https://www.jobbydoo.it/)
Also very Italian is jobbydoo (Pavia). A visit here is also a must for a complete overview of online job postings , divided by profession and sector.
Creating a job for yourself
The internet offers numerous opportunities for finding full-time or part-time remote work . And it also offers valuable information and tips for starting your own business.
The possibilities are truly endless and aimed at both those looking for a real job and those looking for a second job or a job to do from home , perhaps to supplement their income or simply to diversify their days.
Let’s now look at a series of jobs to do at home , all with a specific characteristic: they can be done on your own or online.
#1 Affiliate Marketing
A great online work -from-home opportunity is to familiarize yourself with the world of affiliate marketing. While it requires some specific skills, dedicating yourself to affiliate marketing, with a little practice, can guarantee a respectable second income.
For those unfamiliar with how it works, affiliate marketing involves promoting a company’s product or service on your website or social media page. When a user purchases a product or service directly from the affiliate’s page, a percentage of the purchase is paid to the affiliate.
Clearly, to successfully carry out the activity you need to have many followers and the ability to promote a product.
Furthermore, it is a good idea to first check which companies offer an affiliate program and send the request to join the circuit.
Affiliate marketing activities are highly appreciated because: they don’t require a warehouse (the company takes care of shipping directly), they don’t require a large initial investment other than your own time.
#2 Peer-to-peer Lender
Working from home by lending money to individuals is one of the latest frontiers in online work. Numerous Italian and international platforms offer secure funding for startups and business ideas promoted by individuals living anywhere in the world.
In this case, good skills in evaluating the potential of an investment are required.
#3 Lend your voice
A home-based job that could provide a significant second income is to lend your voice to reading a book or accompanying a commercial.
In fact, there are many small, medium and large companies looking for people with a nice timbre of voice who are simply required to read a text and record it in good audio quality.
Where to find this kind of work? Check out platforms like Fiverr (https://www.fiverr.com/) or Upwork (https://www.upwork.com/).
#4 Virtual Assistant
Managing phone calls, emails, appointments, entering data, and always being available—this is what a virtual assistant is expected to do, which can be defined as secretarial work done online.
Working as a virtual assistant allows you to connect with a wide range of people, and it could even be a great way to create a new career.
#5 Online Teacher
Work for yourself by sharing your knowledge of mathematics, history, physics, or chemistry. Today, all this is possible directly online.
Offering yourself as a teacher on one of the many dedicated platforms is an excellent idea that young graduates who are waiting for a full-time job might consider opting for this type of work.
#6 Home restaurant
One last option for working from home is reserved for cooking enthusiasts.
Those who live in large cities or tourist locations may consider opening their home to tourists and offering them a traditional lunch or dinner.
Home restaurants are an increasingly popular activity, highly appreciated by foreign tourists seeking both traditional cuisine and the opportunity to experience the authentic Italian home.
CONCLUSIONS: WORKING FROM HOME
We’ve seen that working from home is now a real option for both employees and self-employed workers.
The digital age has brought and is bringing about the emergence of new professions that can be carried out both as part-time jobs and as a primary occupation.
In conclusion, we emphasize that if your dream is to have a truly profitable job from home, the key aspect is your skills, which should be continually updated and adapted to market demands.
