Has anyone ever heard of OfficePOD? No, unfortunately, it does not seem to be available in the United States. This UK-based company has invented a pretty cool way to make teleworking even more convenient. Advertised as a method to “provide a working environment that is separate to home life”, the OfficePOD is a self-contained office that can be installed in a variety of places. How about your backyard? This environmentally friendly option is made of recyclable materials and available for lease for about $7,100. 

Can’t afford that? Yeah, neither can I. But there are some ways to recreate the benefits of OfficePOD without the expense. The most important benefit that OfficePOD understands is the need to separate work from home life. Teleworking is popularly known for improving family-work balance, but this requires the ability to do work when you need to do work and be with your family when you need to be with your family. Of course flexibility is a major component, but so is separation. So, how can we do this without the costly OfficePOD?

A few tips: 

• Make sure your home office meets the same health and safety standards as those available at work. You don’t need an OfficePOD to make sure your desk chair and keyboard are at the right height or that lighting is properly arranged to avoid eye strain.
• Designate a space or room where you can concentrate. In other words? Stay away from the TV!
• Make sure you are comfortable - the temperature and level of noise in your home should not distract you from your work.
• And perhaps most importantly? Communicate with household members who will understand you are working and will not disturb you unnecessarily. It’s the best of both worlds. If there’s an emergency, you are there to handle it. But make sure they realize you don’t have time to watch the latest episode of “The Office”… it would be too ironic, no?

Abide by these tips and you’re on your way to the benefits addressed by the OfficePOD. But for free!

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota