Telecommuting

Telecommuting refers to the option of working at home on full (4-5 times a week) or part time (once every other week to 2-3 days per week) basis. Telecommuting is applicable for jobs that can be performed at least part-time away from the office. Telecommuting requires jobs to be portable. It is widely used in most sectors of the economy as an alternative work arrangement. Telecommuting is ideal for employees who have strong time management skills, who are above average performers, and who can work with little direction. This is not intended to allow dependent care while working at home.

• Telecommute Considerations
  • Scheduling Work
  • Equipment
  • Home Office
  • Travel
• Links to other resources

• increased productivity as a result of fewer distractions, continuous work time
• improved morale
• decreased absenteeism based on the ability of employees to work in spite of emergencies such as heavy snowfall, car trouble or a sick child
• decreased turnover and improved recruitment
• opportunity to expand hiring to include persons with disabilities and others unable to meet traditional working hours requirements
• decreased overhead in times of office expansion
• mitigating trips to a work site and complying with air quality and trip reduction ordinances

Benefits to employees

• adopt a more flexible work schedule
• improve attitude, quality of life and spend more time with family
• decrease or eliminate commuting costs, commuting time and frustration
• increase employment opportunities for the disabled and others unable to meet traditional work hour requirements
• work in more pleasant environment with greater autonomy
• expanded options for where to live, may live farther from office than normal commute would allow

Benefits to the community

• decrease congestion, fuel consumption, and pollution
• provide employment for the mobility limited
• enable us to shape land use patterns in a positive way by moving work to the workers

Telecommute Considerations

Scheduling Work

• A schedule should be established that will remain constant each week. This schedule should also set blocks of time for working at home so that other employees can contact the telecommuter. The employee, however, must remain flexible for unforeseen business needs. The employees should also be aware that project or job requirements may necessitate working at the office during a normal 'home day'.
• A telecommuter should not attend to personal business when working. Obligations such as dependent care or family business must be addressed to allow the telecommuter to work as if he or she was at the office.

Equipment

• The leader and the employee should decide the proper equipment needed and who will provide it. This may include a personal computer, printer, or fax capability. Hardware and software must be adequate to perform the assigned tasks of the telecommuter.
• Your employer may reserve the right to audit any company-owned equipment or materials used for company work.

Home Office

• Establishing an office environment at home is critical to minimizing, maintaining professionalism, and enhancing productivity. Physical needs must be met as well, in the form of a comfortable chair, table or desk, and adequate lighting.
• A communication plan must be set. This could involve a second phone line and charges to either the employee or EDS. An answering machine may also be required.
• Normal office security policies must be followed at home.
• Workers compensations usually covers employees performing company work at home. Consult your Human Resources department for more details. This includes employees performing company work while telecommuting. Established procedures should be used to report any injuries.

Travel

• Training and travel may require the employee to change their 'normal' weekly schedule. The employee should be aware of this possibility and each leader should work with the employee on a case by case situation.
• Travel reimbursement will be handled as if the telecommuter was working in the office.

Other Resources

If you need help getting started or are not sure if telecommuting is for you, refer to these resources for more information.

• Telecommuting Frequently Asked Questions from Gil Gordon Associates (copied here with permission). If you have access to the public internet you can visit Gil Gordon's web site at http://www.gilgordon.com.