By Allison Rice

Since the popularization of the Internet, one of the fastest-growing trends in the professional world is telecommuting – and working from home has never been easier.

Meanwhile, corporate mega moguls (like Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer and Best Buy CEO Hubert Joly) are instituting company-wide telecommuting bans and changes to the work-at-home policies.

Why?

According to Marissa Mayer, telecommuting kills the “communication and collaboration” required for innovation to flourish. That may very well be true for careers that require team-work; however, for solitary positions, face-to-face meetings may actually stifle the flow of creativity and efficiency.

At the same time, there are some very real concerns related to the accountability and productivity issues inherent in a work-at-home environment. (more…)

By Victoria Heckstall

Working at home can be fun, but it can also be stressful. Not only do you have to manage your own schedule (which is a daunting task in and of itself), you also have to steer clear of work at home scams. You want to believe that every company out there is honest, but they aren’t. Some people would take advantage of their own mother.

Here’s what you need to ask before agreeing to any work at home opportunity:

1.    What are the responsibilities of the position?

A legitimate employer will have a job description. That description should outline your rights and responsibilities, a contract, and some type of pay structure. (more…)

By J.J. Smith

The advantages of working at home are clear for many. One of the biggest problems, though, is how to get a job that pays well but still allows you to work at home. Wondering what some of the best jobs out there for women are?

Here are just a few at the top of the list.

Teleradiologist:

Healthcare services everywhere are looking to cut back here or there and save some cash, and one way they’re doing that is by choosing teleradiology departments. If you have the right training, this is one great way to make some cash. The idea here is that you work for a group or you gather contracts on your own, then you handle everything from the comfort of your home office. While the salary isn’t quite what you’d make with some of the top hospitals in the nation, it beats having to commute every day. (more…)

By Juliana Weiss-Roessler

Without a doubt, you know that the United States has a weight problem. We eat too much and too poorly, and we expend too little energy. But do you know how bad it’s really gotten?

According to a 2012 study, more than two-thirds of adults in the country are overweight, and more than a third can be defined as obese. In fact, since the 1970s the obesity rates for all Americans – children and adults – have more than doubled.

Not surprisingly, this has led to an enormous weight loss industry and includes such diverse business models as diet plans, diet drugs, medical procedures, gym memberships, cleanses, diet food home delivery, meal consultants, and various kinds of trainers. 20/20 ran a story back in May of 2012 saying that these companies raked in around $20 billion (yes, with a “b”) each year. (more…)

By Holly Reisem Hanna

With the unemployment rate at a staggering 7.7% and companies looking for ways to save money during these difficult financial times, freelancing and telecommuting are becoming more popular than ever.

According to Rich Pearson, Chief Marketing Officer for Elance, the growth of the virtual office means that employment is no longer contingent upon where you live, which is mutually beneficial for both job seekers and employers alike.

So what are some of the top ways to work from home for 2013? (more…)