| So what is Telecommuting? | | | | may find working from home, a bit lonely. If one were |
| Telecommuting (a.k.a. e-commuting, e-work, working | | | | a socialite, enjoyed being a part of office or work |
| from home, working at home and telework) can be | | | | gossip this might not be the right choice for your work |
| defined, most simply as: An arrangement or | | | | atmosphere. |
| agreement between an employer and a hired | | | | Advantages for the employer |
| employee which allows for the employee to work | | | | 1. All corporations rely heavily on bottom lines and |
| directly and flexibly from the employee's own home. | | | | profitability. A key metric of any bottom line is always |
| Advantages for the employee and the employer are | | | | "overhead" costs. By allowing an employee to work |
| often immeasurable. The title "telecommute" is used | | | | from home a company can see a large savings in |
| primarily in the United States and demonstrates its top | | | | many aspects of their overhead costs. For example, |
| convenience to the employee because the word | | | | utilities which are a big chunk of the cost to run a |
| captures the idea of replacing the workers drive or | | | | business daily. |
| commute to the actual worksite of the employer. The | | | | 2. Telecommuters are overall happier people which in |
| work assigned is being handled by the employee with | | | | turn results in a higher productivity. Productivity almost |
| electronic means, landline(s) and fax. | | | | always equates to improved profit margins. |
| Advantages for the employee | | | | 3. Reduction in absenteeism and tardiness creates not |
| Although there are numerous advantages to the | | | | only a happier traditional workplace but a better running |
| worker, the top 5 are listed to better visualize just how | | | | system. Employees who work from home are less |
| wonderful a job assignment like this would be. | | | | likely no miss the daily work due to an illness as they |
| 1. The most obvious and already covered would be to | | | | have more access to the important things needed |
| visualize not having to make the drive into work each | | | | when feeling ill. Restroom is only steps away, usually |
| day. Which carries with it other advantages such as | | | | and obviously more accommodating. Medications |
| no expenditure on fuel for a vehicle as the employee | | | | needed during an illness often can't be used at the |
| is already at work. Second, would be time. Many | | | | workplace due to the side effects. Less sick and ill |
| employees in today's job market must travel greater | | | | workers means less people getting a cold or virus at |
| distances to the job. This could result in a time savings | | | | the workplace from a sick co-worker. Less parents |
| to some of over an hour a day. | | | | missing work, because their child is sick. Working at |
| 2. In many cases, the employee can enjoy working | | | | home allows for the parent to be a parent in all |
| their own hours. In some, but not all, of these jobs the | | | | manners. |
| employer will require a set amount of hours dedicated | | | | 4. Less time wasted for mandatory breaks as outlined |
| to the assignments given each work day. Often | | | | by company policy or laws. Less time workers spend |
| leaving the worker to decide exactly when those | | | | visiting with co-workers about non-work related topics |
| hours will be. This type of flexibility is uncommon in the | | | | (water cooler circles). Longer hours are usually spent |
| traditional workplace. | | | | by the worker because there is more time allotted due |
| 3. In many instances the flexibility can be even greater | | | | to time saved as mentioned above. Generally |
| because working at home means wearing what you | | | | speaking, most telecommuters are highly, |
| want, taking breaks when needed to provide for other | | | | self-motivated people who do not procrastinate and |
| family issues or circumstances. This freedom of stop | | | | more detail oriented meaning higher productivity. |
| and go work would be unheard of in the traditional | | | | 5. Safety: Fewer workers at the workplace may result |
| scene. One couldn't leave four times to take care of | | | | in less OSHA recordable incidents which are generally |
| laundry, babies feeding or taking the pet outside. | | | | very high on most corporate levels of assessment. |
| 4. Monetary savings that will affect a households | | | | Less chances of workers being injured, causing more |
| bottom line in a large number of ways. For instance, | | | | missed work and the potential for a workman's comp |
| the savings alone on gas for the car could actually buy | | | | claim which means a positive effect to that bottom line. |
| week's worth of groceries. The savings on clothing | | | | Retention: Happy and satisfied employees do not need |
| that would normally need purchased for dress codes | | | | to go anywhere else to work. Reduction in retention |
| would be substantial over a year. Savings in the form | | | | rates means less spending on the normal things |
| of eating out for lunches and breaks, as your own | | | | required to replace workers. The costs of training |
| refrigerator or cabinets become your 'shop' for meals | | | | alone can jeopardize many head count budgets. Less |
| and snacks. | | | | workers because of head count restrictions means |
| 5. Although you are truly working for a company, who | | | | more work to the workers already employed. |
| is paying you by the hour or even a salary and even a | | | | To Recap |
| commission the worker can almost be described as | | | | Happy employees mean greater profits for any |
| their own boss. Gone is the micro managing, the | | | | company. Companies spend hundreds of thousands of |
| constant workplace interruptions, putting up with others | | | | dollars annually trying to capture the medium levels |
| who the worker may dislike but have to work with | | | | needed to create such a work atmosphere. This |
| daily. Extra work added to the day, due to others who | | | | arrangement takes almost every issue, that would be |
| have called in sick. | | | | presented in a common workplace and removes it |
| Visualizing the above, top 5 reasons, for almost | | | | from the equation. Happy and satisfied employees |
| anyone would be enough to sell them immediately on | | | | work harder, are more detailed in their work and often |
| this concept. However, there are some disadvantages | | | | are much more productive. All in all, Telecommute |
| that need mentioning as well. Keep in mind that | | | | hands down is a winner for everyone and is being |
| working in a traditional job at a specific locations | | | | publicly recognized and utilized more and more every |
| means also a social network. Those needing contact | | | | day. |
| with other humans during the course of the workday | | | | |