Home-working side-effects revealed (From Epsom Guardian)

Home-working side-effects revealed

3:00am Thursday 17th May 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Mothers face unexpected side-effects when they work from home, including higher energy bills and having more washing-up to do, according to a new study.

A survey of almost 900 members of parenting group Mumsnet also found that many had problems concentrating on their work.

Almost a third of those questioned said they struggled to juggle working from home with looking after children, and half worried about keeping their working hours under control.

Beverley Maguire of energy firm E.ON, which helped with the research, said: "We know from our research that the transition to working from home is challenging from both a lifestyle perspective and the practical implications it has on your home."

Mumsnet and E.ON published a list of suggestions to help women work from home, saying they should take regular breaks, have a strict routine of working hours and create a separate working space to the rest of the house.