| Telecommuting is no longer in its infancy as it has | | | | can carry out your assigned job without any difficulties |
| become an accepted and effective means of retaining | | | | and play the prefect team player. You can establish a |
| valued employees by allowing them to work in a | | | | frequency for checking in your employer's needs and |
| flexible environment and keep the overheard costs | | | | your job functions once a day or more, depending on |
| under control, not to mention the environmental impact | | | | what suits your role the best. You should also return |
| due to the reduced number of commuters on the road. | | | | phone calls within a specified time period and make |
| Even the 2007 WorkatWork Survey Brief showed | | | | sure that you are able to handle deadlines. |
| how there has been an increase of 25 percent within | | | | For the Employers |
| one year (05-06) in the number of Americans who are | | | | Helping in the set-up: You should help your employee |
| allowed to work remotely at least one day in a month. | | | | with the necessary software, hardware and |
| However, people need to consider certain pointers that | | | | telecommuting equipment so that he/she can have all |
| make telecommuting successful in order to reap its | | | | the required tools before beginning work. Apart from |
| optimum benefits. | | | | delivering the supplies, you may also order for |
| For the Telecommuters | | | | ergonomic work chairs or help in the proper positioning |
| Right equipment in place: Apart from having some | | | | of the monitor and keyboard etc. |
| basic office furniture like a table and chair, you will also | | | | Evaluate the telecommuting arrangement: You should |
| need electronic and communicating equipment. To | | | | assess how well the arrangement is working for at |
| begin with, you need to have a computer with good | | | | least 30 to 60 days. If all goes well, you can think about |
| internet connection. Apart from that, a phone and a | | | | increasing the number of working hours. If not, you will |
| fax machine are two other important tools that you | | | | need to find ways to improve the arrangement so that |
| need to have while working from home. You would | | | | the desired results can be achieved. |
| also require a printer, scanner, storage device and | | | | Offering feedback to the employee: You should do |
| good software back-up system as part of your | | | | regular assessment of the telecommuter to provide an |
| computer accessories. | | | | insight into what works and what does not. This will |
| Right attitude to work: Just because you are working | | | | help the employees know how well they performed in |
| from home, it doesn't mean that you can work and | | | | the telecommuting environment and fine tune things, as |
| play as and when you like. To become successful as | | | | and when needed. |
| a telecommuter, you should have the right professional | | | | By deciding to telecommute, you can save a lot both |
| attitude to complete your assigned work even when | | | | as an employer and as an employee. Cisco claims to |
| no one is watching you. You should also have the | | | | have earned over $277 million in productivity savings |
| ability to manage interruptions at work like someone | | | | by opting to allow its employees to work from home. |
| dropping by during your working hours, caring for the | | | | Even the findings of a survey by WorldatWork show |
| elders, young children and the like. The key to become | | | | how a higher percentage of Americans have |
| a successful telecommuter is to stay organized, | | | | embraced telecommuting in 2008. |
| prepare a work plan for everyday, create a time | | | | So, whether you are an employer or an employee, |
| schedule and follow that diligently. | | | | telecommuting can offer you a win-win situation if you |
| Skills to depend upon: The first thing to become a | | | | keep the above mentioned pointers in mind and act |
| successful and dependable telecommuter is to keep in | | | | accordingly. |
| touch with your coworkers and supervisor so that you | | | | |