5. A) Read the magazine article about advantages and disadvantages of working from home. Put each quotation in the correct category in the chart below. The first one has been done for you.

Does working at home really work?	Advantages	Disadvantages
the work place
the working day
commuting
technology
efficiency
costs
motivation
family		1

Working from home

What do people really think about working from home? We interviewed a cross section of people from different industries about their experiences of teleworking. As you will see, there was quite a wide variety of opinions.

1 ‘There is no getting away from the family. When you work in an office you get a chance to escape and meet new people.’

2 ‘I think us home workers get more done in a shorter time. There are no phone calls or colleagues to slow you down.’

3 ‘Without journeys to and from the office you don’t get a chance to relax and prepare your mind before you work, or to wind down before you get home. I miss the separation between home and leisure time.’

4 ‘You do get to see more of your children. The problem is, though, that you’re supposed to be WORKING.’

5 ‘You don’t have to sit in traffic jams or walk to work in the rain. Or listen people talking loudly on their mobiles on the train.’

6 ‘I think financially you miss out on perks like subsidised refreshments or travel.’

7 ‘Life is definitely cheaper for the employee. You save on things like transport and smart clothes. It’s also cheaper to have lunch at home.’

8 ‘It’s a bit dangerous for workaholics. You can easily find your working time creeping into your leisure time.’

9 ‘Sharing ideas and problems with your colleagues can make you more productive in some jobs. And the gossip can be really inspiring!’

10 ‘Space can be a problem. Rooms can become an unpleasant mix of home and office.’

11 ‘You don’t have to work with those obsolete office computers and the company intranet which always seems to be down.’

12 ‘The flexibility is great. You can work at five in the morning or on a Sunday afternoon.’

13 ‘I like the freedom. You can open the window, play music and generally make yourself comfortable.’

14 ‘It can be difficult to get down to work. You have to be very self-disciplined.’

15 ‘If you have a technical problem, you’re on your own. There’s no IT expert to call on.’

16 ‘No boss cracking the whip!’

b) Compare you list with the opinions you’ve read. Do you have the same ones?