Few people can relate to the gut wrenching, bone crushing, spine compacting tackles that we all witnessed in Ford Field Sunday. Well I am one of the few. Okay, maybe being hit by a runaway linebacker is a bit more glamorous then being hit by the runaway flu but the pain and suffering are just the same, believe you me!
So what is a gal to do when she feels so horrible she can't climb from the recliner in the living room for four full days? Well sure, just call in sick. But wait! If you work from home who exactly are you calling?
Benefits such as sick days, vacation days, personal days, and medical and dental insurance are something each and every small business owner, at-home business owner, and work-at-home employee is concerned about, or at the very least should be concerned about.
The cost of health care is staggering and for many at-home workers one day of missed work can deal the family budget a big blow let alone a whole work week! But what are you to do?
This is where I hope to get some feedback from those in the trenches. I have been blessed to have medical coverage included in my benefits package as a full-time work at home employee but there is no sick time nor vacation included in that package. We have been recently given Holiday pay which was a wonderful addition.
But the truth is I am one of the lucky few. When it comes to getting sick I just don't. Period. Then bam! I get so sick I can't see straight let alone sit up straight! Was I concerned? You bet. What was I do to without the pay I would receive for those lost hours?
My job allows me to work when I am able with the understanding that I will make myself available between regular business hours the majority of the time. What this allows me to do is to play catch up, if need be, early morning, late at night, or in this weekends' case 24/7 until the work is complete and my hours are put in. We all aren't so lucky nor is it possible to cram it all in every time.
I would love to hear from other work-from-home moms and dads about how they budget for emergencies, medical and otherwise, where they find quality insurance and how much it costs, and how they save for and take vacations. I would love to hear this because I don't have a plan at all. My fool proof plan was to not ever get that sick or to never break a leg or have a family emergency that I can't deal with in one day. Some plan huh?
Marta, I hope you will get well soon! These are the things that I do -
1. find a passive income - a product or service that you can sell without you being there. This gives you something on top of what you are already earning.
2. divide the money I earn into these categories (courtesy of the millionaire mind seminar): necessities 50%, long term savings for spending (maybe like a nice car sometime in the future) 10%, education 10%, investment money 10%, play (like vacations) 10%, charity 10%. So, your sick days may be paid for from the necessities account, and maybe even from the long term savings from spending account.
3. group insurance: some networking groups such as the chamber of commerce, may have a group insurance plan for members to pay for sick days.
Hope this helps!
Noelle
Posted by: Noelle | February 9, 2006 11:19 AM | Permalink to Comment