Telecommuting
The most recent stats from the Department of Labor estimate that about 15 percent of the workforce has some type of compensated, at-home work schedule. With off-site computer networks, WiFi, cell phones, and e-mail attachments it's a wonder more people don't telecommute. To telecommute is to work from a remote office that is usually in the comfort of the employee's home. With the advances bound to happen in technology over the next few years, telecommuting is estimated to rise.
A telecommuting arrangement may be full or part time and can require the employee to come into the office rarely, occasionally, or frequently. Companies have even gone as far as to set up direct-dial company phone lines in the employee's home and give them access to company databases.
Which employees make the best telecommute prospects?
Employees who don't rely strongly on the social connections at work and have the self-discipline to get the job done when the comforts of home are just a room away are the best at telecommuting. They have to be trusted 100 percent, be self-motivated, and have excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Telecommuting can work for many positions that do not involve direct personal contact. Since we're slowly becoming a paperless world, more and more positions can be performed remotely. Many payroll clerks now rely on automated timekeeping systems to process checks, so why not let them do it at home? With caller ID, busy executives can screen their own phone calls, while their executive assistants perform some duties from home while alternating days in the office with a coworker.
The ability to work from home is a benefit that does not cost you extra money, but rewards the employee by providing a financial advantage. In essence, you're giving the employee more money in his pocket by reducing the money he spends on gasoline, vehicle maintenance, or public transportation. Car insurance rates for people who do not drive to work every day go down, too.
