Ditching the 9-to-5 isn’t for everyone

My money is made from the comfort of my own home. I get to sit in my pyjamas until lunchtime, and if something comes up, I can set the work aside and go do something else.

Recently, Alexa, my colleague, wrote about the freedom she enjoys as a freelancer, and I can relate. I feel a great deal of freedom with my choices. I could never go back to working in an office, where they tell you what to do and when to do it.

However, not everyone is comfortable or happy when they get out of a more traditional work setting. I associate with a number of people who work from home and set their own hours, so sometimes I forget that not everyone wants the lifestyle I have. In fact, some people prefer a more traditional 9-to-5 job. My husband, for example, likes to have a regular job to go to (although he largely chooses his own hours since he teaches at the college level). Ditching the 9-to-5 isn’t for everyone. Here are some reasons people prefer the traditional workforce:

The work (usually) stays at work

One of the biggest reasons people like the idea of a traditional job is that the work usually stays at work. You go, you do your work, you come home. It’s very easy to create (and keep) a dividing line between work and home. While my husband sometimes has grading to do at home, and occasionally a student calls or texts him for help, most of his work is done in his office, and he can relax at home.

When you’re an entrepreneur, or when you work from home, you don’t always get that separation. You can’t just go on vacation; your work comes with you. And there’s always something that you could probably be doing. If you don’t strike that balance, you can lose your home and family life altogether.

Regular paycheques, plus benefits

The reality of my situation is that I have an irregular income. While I have a base income from regular gigs, there’s a portion of my income that is variable. On top of that, not all my clients pay me at the same time every month, and sometimes they’re late.

This doesn’t usually happen when you have a traditional job. Your pay comes at the same time, every time, like clockwork. Plus, you usually get benefits, like personal days, health insurance, a retirement account (perhaps with matching contributions), and other perks. For some people, that’s the way they want things to be. They want to be able to go to work, get paid on time, and then go home.