Management of telecommuting

What is the telecommuting? The practice of working from home and communicating with your fellow workers using teleconferencing. Telecommuting uses telecommunication technology such as the Internet to work outside of the traditional workplace. An individual may be on a company's payroll, but perform his or her duties from the home

The benefits and drawbacks 1, Benefits for employers Cost savings The main savings are in premises costs, office overheads and labour. Increased productivity Productivity increases of 40% have been reported, though a range of 10%-40% is probably more typical across a large-scale programme. Organisation flexibility In the event of restructuring and reorganisation people can continue to work without disruption to their personal lives.

Benefits for individuals  Improved work opportunities Work opportunities are not confined to jobs within reasonable commuting distance. Work opportunities are not confined to jobs within reasonable commuting distance.  Better balance of work and family life Even though the teleworker may put in more hours of effective work, he or she can still expect to see more of the family and can more easily participate in home responsibilities such as ferrying children, shopping etc. Even though the teleworker may put in more hours of effective work, he or she can still expect to see more of the family and can more easily participate in home responsibilities such as ferrying children, shopping etc.  Reduced travel time and costs This is the most obvious benefit and, for many teleworkers, a primary motivation. In our surveys, most teleworkers have used at least part of this time to get more work done, in contrast to the "relaxed lifestyle" image painted by the media. This is the most obvious benefit and, for many teleworkers, a primary motivation. In our surveys, most teleworkers have used at least part of this time to get more work done, in contrast to the "relaxed lifestyle" image painted by the media.

Social and economic benefits Reduced traffic congestion Reduced traffic congestion In the most intensive commuter areas its quite noticeable how much more easily the traffic flows when even ten percent of commuters are away on holiday.In the most intensive commuter areas its quite noticeable how much more easily the traffic flows when even ten percent of commuters are away on holiday. Reduced total travel and consequent pollution Reduced total travel and consequent pollution The same transport-telecommunications substitution study also confirmed that teleworkers do generate a worthwhile net reduction in total car travel.The same transport-telecommunications substitution study also confirmed that teleworkers do generate a worthwhile net reduction in total car travel.

Are there drawbacks? As with any new technology or technique, telework only yields benefits when applied in the right circumstances and in the right way. We are developing a "Frequently Asked Questions"* section for this web site that will list and address all the issues that need to be considered in order to run a successful telework programme, whether as an individual, as an enterprise, or in support of a local community or region. Meanwhile, the main aspects that have to be right in order for telework to yield benefits rather than problems are As with any new technology or technique, telework only yields benefits when applied in the right circumstances and in the right way. We are developing a "Frequently Asked Questions"* section for this web site that will list and address all the issues that need to be considered in order to run a successful telework programme, whether as an individual, as an enterprise, or in support of a local community or region. Meanwhile, the main aspects that have to be right in order for telework to yield benefits rather than problems are

The place. The place. Many homes are not well equipped for some kinds of telework The person Home based telework is inappropriate for some people - for example those who have poor personal motivation and are not "self starters" may need the external discipline provided by set hours and a managed environment. The employer organisation Some companies have management systems and cultures that are not (yet) well adapted to the flexibility that telework can entail. Our survey of UK managers' opinions showed that there are many manager who lack confidence in their ability to "manage at a distance", and also those who lack faith in their staff's commitment and so feel that home based workers would be inclined to underperform.