An article looks at the downside of working from home.
Travelmarket Report looked at the changes in the life of a travel agent over the last 20 years, and the fact that the advancement of technology means that they can work from a virtual office rather than a call centre or office. The article noted that the industry now has many talented travel agents working from home who are able to negotiate good salaries.
Gayle Walsh, President of Personnel Travel Consultants , said that “agents need to fully investigate the virtual work life before making the jump”, and noted that “working from home has hidden financial costs, and can blur the lines between work and personal” and therefore it is not for everyone. In a survey conducted by Walsh, 71 experienced travel agents averaged more than 25 years in the industry, and of those 32 percent had opted to work out of the office and took a five to 10 percent pay cut to do so.
Linda Alexander, Vice President of Operations at Teplis, said: “After 9/11, and after the recession, there was a cut-back in staff, and it was an employer’s market. But right now, it is an employee’s market for salary and work location,” which means that there has been a turn around in salaries. During Walsh’s survey, two thirds of agents said they were using their own home internet ,and 42 percent said they used their own phone, while 56 percent used their personal printer.
Despite this, the survey found that the agents actually saved on expenditure like fuel, mileage, clothing and time travelling, and Walsh said that this was a “win for the agent” although she commented “that many do not consider the higher costs of utilities”. Even so, 54 of the 71 in the survey said they prefer to work from home.
The transition stage from the workplace to home requires some thought, and 41 of the 71 said that they had only received a week’s training before changing to virtual. Walsh commented that: “It’s one reason why some agents don’t work out. Every agency does things differently, and even though an agent knows Sabre the mid-office and back-office scripts and procedures can be challenging. Some agents will pick things up quicker than others.”
In the office environment, new staff can ask questions whereas at home there is not that option, Walsh adding that “you are at the mercy of a ‘go-to person’ and if they are not available, you are sitting at your desk trying to figure things out,” also noting: “I think that in order for an agent to feel 90 percent comfortable takes three months.”
During the survey 77 percent said that they had been assigned a mentor, and many agencies try to organise a “work friend”, but it can get lonely if you have never worked from home, and Alexander summed up by saying: “Working virtually is great for most people, but it isn’t for everyone. You have to have discipline, applied throughout your career.”