While from the outside it seems amazing, and everyone I meet comments on how lucky I am to work from home there are major cons:
- As you work from home your "Team leader" will constantly be on you about the work you are doing. I have been asked during one on one meetings with the team leader why I had over 5 minutes of "Away" time on certain days. Away time is what is used for bathroom breaks, on one those days I had gone to the bathroom for over what Apple finds acceptable. If you need to use the bathroom they (in not so many words) urge you to hold it in until one of your lunch breaks
- As you work from home you are closely monitored, this is done by your "Aux" usage (How long you are available to take calls, on lunches, bathroom breaks, etc.) as well as by:
- Recording everything you do on your screen, so if you have any downtime that you're not on calls DO NOT use your work computer to get on any of your personal websites, as your manager may review the recording later and be able to see everything you've done. This include when you're on your lunch breaks.
- They will also monitor everything you say. There have been times I have been reprimanded for talking about customer issues to my S/O while on my lunch breaks. My work computer is in another room but the microphone can just barely pick up conversations that are had. If you want to talk privately to anyone in your home make sure to disconnected from the Apple VPN and shut down the computer.
Another con of the job is that, since you work from home you are technically always at work. I have had "co-workers" long on hours after their shifts end because they are "Bored" and decide to work on a customers case.
Also as you progress higher in the company (To a Tier 2) you will be staying back from work a lot to make sure everything is taken care of for your customer, as well as can have your holidays cut short if a customer wishes to talk to you (this depends strongly on the manager, but I have had my manager call my on holidays and ask to email a customer back)
One last thing, working from home can get very lonely. While you do have a chat to talk to other people in Apple, there is no face to face chatting or hanging out after work. At times this can lead you to feel isolated especially as sometimes you may not leave your house for 5 days at a time depending on your schedule.
