As gasoline is fast approaching $3.00 per gallon again, the topic of telecommuning is being discussed again at work. Many employers fear that if an employee is not at the office then they cannot be working. The Dilbert scenario of telecommuting will take over and the employees will sit around all day in their underwear playing computer games.
Nothing can be further from the truth. There are many advantages to implement telecommuting. For example, instead of hiring instructors out of the local talent pool, the college is now recruiting professors from across the country to teach online courses. This allows us to find the best instructors no matter where they live. Your company can do the same, and more, by leveraging of the the advantages of telecommuting.
- Read more about The Advantages of Telecommuting.
You make a very good point! My experiences tell me one word needs to be added to the equation – Balance. People still need to be brought into the office every now and then for some human interaction. Without this human interaction, it is easy for people to feel either – they are not being appreciated or they don’t have to work as hard.
In a recent Marketing article on “Balance” – The balance was between Technology and “Face to Face” contact. The same is 100% true for Telecommuting.
Thanks for reminding me.
The non-profit organization that I work for has actually done the same thing. By encouraging employees to telecommute we help each of them save money. Also, the organization as a whole saves money by using and it allows us to collaborate with people from all over the world without having to pay their travel expenses.