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of Telecommuting
Find out how implementing
a telecommuting program
can positively impact
your bottom line.
a telecommuting program
can positively impact
your bottom line.
Top 10 Myths & Facts of Telecommuting
Myth: Telecommuting changes managers' expectations of employees when they're not in the office.
Fact: You don't need to see employees working; you need to know the results of their activity. By establishing concrete goals for telecommuters, employees working from home will know what work is expected of them and you will know that the work is getting done.
Myth: It's too much work to create a telecommute program.
Fact: For no charge, Telecommute Connecticut consultants help create a telecommuting program to meet each individual company's needs, including assistance in setting program goals, developing policy and selection criteria, conducting cost/benefit and systems analysis, training staff and measuring success.
Myth: My business is too fast-paced for telecommuting.
Fact: Accessibility to technology has made telecommuting one of the fastest-growing workplace trends in America. Today's technology, such as conference calling, e-mail and high-speed Internet connections, combined with old-fashioned technology like the telephone, make a telecommuter's responsiveness virtually seamless and instantaneous.
Myth: My employees' work isn't suited to telecommuting.
Fact: If employees have portable tasks that can be completed at home, they might be candidates for telecommuting one day a week or even one day a month.
Myth: Telecommuting is easier than working in the office.
Fact: While the commute is shorter, the fact is that working from home is simply not for everyone and it's far from easy. It takes the right person, commitment, determination and defined work tasks.
Myth: Telecommuters are never able to escape work.
Fact: Employers establish boundaries for work-related issues when establishing their telecommuting programs. A telecommuting agreement with employees addresses issues such as work hours and defined tasks that ensure employees are able to separate work from home. When selecting employees whose work is suited to telecommuting, employers make sure the candidates' personalities are suited to working at home.
Myth: Telecommuting creates an unfair work environment.
Fact: Not everyone wants to telecommute and some jobs don’t lend themselves to telecommuting. Many factors determine candidates for telecommuting, such as the nature of the work, personalities and work styles. Employers with pre-defined qualifiers that are applied avoid this perception.
Myth: Telecommuting makes employees invisible and keeps them out of the communication and teamwork loop.
Fact: On average, telecommuters spend three or more days per week in the office, which can help minimize the perception they are "out of the loop." Many firms connect telecommuters to the Internet and their Intranet, ensuring they're able to communicate with colleagues via computers and phones - the way most employees within an office communicate. It's important to remember that telecommuting is not suited to all employees. Telecommuters have to work to stay organized, be diligent with their schedules and stay "in the loop" at work.
Myth: Telecommuters do not need child care.
Fact: It doesn't matter how well employees think they can handle work and kids at the same time; working from home is not a substitute for child or elder care. Generally, telecommuters have child or elder care arrangements in place for their telecommuting days.
Myth: Telecommuting is stress free.
Fact: Telecommuting can lower job stress by eliminating distractions and conflicts that might occur in the office, but job stress is everywhere regardless of where your desk is. Just keep the job and lose the commute!
For more information on Telecommute Connecticut call 1-800-255-7433.