What are your thoughts on telecommuting?

1. 77

   Audrey Bakerposted 11 years ago

   What are your thoughts on telecommuting?
   
   One way we could reduce our environmental footprint would be to telecommute. Do you think an option to telecommute would be beneficial for you or your company?

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   Casimiroposted 11 years ago

   It can be if all the technology is in place, such as fast Internet, video, headset and mic. The job task set needs to fit as well. Most importantly,  your work place has to have a culture that is results oriented. Otherwise, it's too easy to get distracted by your home environment, which will impact your performance.

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      Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Agreed. All good points. I've experienced issues with technology that wasn't in place.

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   CR Rookwoodposted 11 years ago

   Lots of people seem to like it, but often it is just a way of passing the cost of maintaining an office onto an employee. Lots of call center work is done at home now, for even less money, and you have to buy and maintain your own equipment to the standards of your employer.
   
   Where I live, most jobs are in the service industry, which of course isn't the kind of thing for which telecommuting is an option. It's all very depressing and I don't see it getting better quickly. Hope I'm wrong.

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      Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      True, it would be nearly impossible to wait a table from home! Though, there is a "robot" type of technology called the Beam that gives people a telepresence, so who knows what someday will bring!

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4. 86

   LauraGTposted 11 years ago

   I do a little of both, some days working from home and others coming into the office.  I will say that I often get more work done at home, away from the distractions of coworkers. But, the flip side is true too, that when I work from home I often miss out on some water cooler (coffee pot?) conversations or the ability to just grab someone  for a quick question. It definitely depends on the culture of the company and the type of work you're doing.

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   1. 77

      Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I am with you on this. When I am at the office, I am far more distracted by my co-workers than any distractions my home office could bring. But it does take a person who can motivate himself or herself or the opposite is true.

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   Neil Sperlingposted 11 years ago

   I work from home and put in a good week. It is NOT for everyone as self discipline is not strong enough in a lot of people and they will waste more time doing domestic duties. I agree with Casimiro - a results based position is easier to achieve production in a home based work setting.
   
   No one answer fits everyone.... no one answer fits every job activities.

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      Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      That is true, everyone is different. I have even heard of people who have become depressed when they telecommuted because they need the in-person interaction.

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      Neil Sperlingposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I agree Audrey - working from home one "has" to go out for coffee with friends as there is no gossiping around the water fountain. LOL
      
      And that can be lonely!

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   Li Galoposted 11 years ago

   Once you've gone to telecommuting, there's no way back!  I sometimes will temp for an office for a month or two but there's NO WAY I could do a 9-5 job again long term, like the old days.  I'm SO glad when those temp jobs end!  I'm telecommuting forever, from now on.  The more I write and work online, the less those temp jobs are needed.
   
   I don't do anything domestic during my work hours and I get SO much more done at home than in an office.  I love it.  There's no better life than telecommuting.  I can travel all over the world and still report to work on time.

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      Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Traveling whenever is a great perk. I am like you; I don't mix home chores into a workday just because I am at home. It is easy for me to keep on task.

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   Rock_njposted 11 years ago

   I think it's great!  There are times when I can't make it into the office due to bad weather, but I can still work from home.  It can be a challenge with distractions, but you have to try to seperate yourself from whatever else is going on around you. 
   
   Speaking of telecommuting, I was surprised to hear that the new Yahoo CEO is now requiring all employees that work from home to instead report to a Yahoo office.  Being a new mom, I'd think she'd understand the good will and benefit of being flexible with employee work schedules.  Also, Yahoo is a tech company, and much of the work can be done anywhere.  Lastly, does she understand how much it's going to cost to put those employees (some of them probably not happy about the new arrangements) in office buildings?

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   1. 77

      Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      True, it's excellent for days when you may have bad weather or a flat tire, or just don't feel 100% and don't want to spread germs.
      
      I was surprised to hear that news also. I heard her justification and yet I still don't know what she is thinking.

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   Patriot Questposted 11 years ago

   hahaha for a moment I thought you were talking about communication through brain waves!.........so my answer was going to be if it works I dont need to write a comment because YOU ALREADY KNOW WHAT IM THINKING!..........hate it i didn't get to use that..........argh!!!! LOL

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      Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Sorry to disappoint you! Well, for what it's worth, you still made me laugh.

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   MarleneBposted 11 years ago

   I love it! Although, once I worked for a company that developed processes for telecommute programs. This company didn't even put trust in their own processes and did not allow their own employees to telecommute. Because of that, it was a hard sell. So, little by little, to show good faith the company started letting employees telecommute. At first, one day a week, then two, then three, then full-time. Once I started telecommuting full-time, I never wanted to work for a company that didn't offer it as an option. I have actually turned down offers simply because the company required employees to work on site. With all the technology we have today, I think it is silly for office workers to be required to be at a physical work location.

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      Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      How ironic! It's good to hear they eventually got with the program.
      
      I agree, it is quite silly.

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    ib radmastersposted 11 years ago

    I think that telecommuting would have a more beneficial effect on removing gridlock from our highways. Environmental footprint reduction would be a minor bonus.
    
    In California, even the shortest commutes take much longer than they should take. The price of gas in California is the highest in the lower 48 states. Less cars on the road reduce gridlock as well as one could expect a reduction in accidents as well.
    
    Telecommuting would also be economically beneficial by reducing the overhead costs of travel to and from work. The government doesn't care how much it costs you to earn your gross income, and they don't make any allowances for your time and expenses of commuting.

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    1. 77

       Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I absolutely agree that fewer cars on the road, fewer accidents, and eliminating travel costs would be major bonuses. Time is a big one. All that time adds up quickly.

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    Angela Kaneposted 11 years ago

    I think any person that can telecommute should be able to do so. The roads would be clear with less pollution and more people can be close to their families.

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    1. 77

       Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       I agree. Hopefully we are moving in this direction and it will be offered to more and more employees. Of course, some people may not want to or lack the discipline - but for everyone else, the option to do so is a major perk.

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    xstaticposted 11 years ago

    My wife works for two different companies, located in New Jersey and DC, as a corprate recruiter. She spends four or five hours a day on one and two or three on the other. It is interesting that she has never been to either site and has met no one in person either. She finds people they need, and works pretty hard all the time she is "on the clock." It has worked very well for her, and saves a lot of money on office clothing too.

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    1. 77

       Audrey Bakerposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       When I talk about this with people, they sometimes say it just isn't the same as being face-to-face. I think face-to-face is nice, but not imperative. My husband telecommutes as well, and email, IM, phones, and video calls go a long way.

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