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ARTICLES
[
Index
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Want to Work
from Home? Ever Given a Thought to Telecommuting?
by Vishal
P. Rao
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Six Figure Freelancer - I reveal quick-n-easy tactics that generate a 6-figure income by writing content online ...
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There are many mistaken definitions of what
telecommuting means. The very name gives the impression of someone answering
work telephone calls from home or typing furiously away at their computers.
Traditionally, telecommuting meant that an employee was linked from
home to their company's computer network. But today telecommuting is much
broader than that and really includes anyone who does even a portion of his or
her work at home. This can include the computer or telephone work the name
implies, but it can also mean researching, working on drawings, or performing
other types of information analysis. Telecommuting really is as simple as a
person working from somewhere outside the office.
There is also a
misconception among many of today's workers that you have to own a business to
work from your home. This just isn't always the case anymore. More and more
people are able to perform their jobs from home. Now more than ever the
business world is realizing the variety of benefits telecommuting can have on
companies and their personnel.
Exactly what are the benefits of
telecommuting? Here are just a few:
1. Less time for commuting means
more time with the family.
Even if a worker's commute is only 30
minutes each way, which isn't much in today's business world, not having to
take this commute can add an extra 5 hours a week an employee can spend with
his or her family. This is 5 hours the employee wasn't previously working or
doing personal things. Just 5 hours of dead time during the week getting from
one spot to another.
2. Telecommuting can also provide a person with
the ability to handle personal appointments without having to take entire days
off.
Employees can take an hour or two through the day to go to doctor
appointments or school conferences close to their homes and simply make up the
time later in the day. This can equal higher productivity for employees.
3. Less commuting can reduce an employee's costs.
For many of
today's employees, the price of gas and car maintenance is on the rise. These
costs associated with going to the office can be greatly reduced by
telecommuting even a couple of days a week. Many workers today even say they
would take a job making a little less money if they had the opportunity to
telecommute. This can truly be a win-win situation for the employer and
employee.
4. Less distraction equals more work.
It's no
secret that often the hardest place to work is at the office. There is a world
of distractions there ranging from ringing telephones to chatty co-workers.
Even telecommuting part of the time can reduce these distractions and make work
more efficient. And if everyone comes to the office at least one common day a
week, meetings and review sessions can be held on this day and the rest of the
week left for more intense work.
There are some challenges to
telecommuting for both employees and their companies, but if you really want to
telecommute most of these can be handled with a few simple strategies:
1. Communicate.
If your employer feels face-to-face communication
is important for your business, suggest that all of the employees come to the
office on at least one common day a week. Meetings can be held on these days,
and you can go over what you've accomplished while on your telecommuting days.
2. Set and track goals and progress.
One of the biggest fears
of employers when it comes to the idea of telecommuting is that they don't have
any way to monitor what the employee is doing through the workday. It takes a
lot of trust to assume an employee is hard at work when they are out of the
boss's sights. Help eliminate this concern by coming up with ways to track and
share your progress. This will also help you make sure you are making the most
of your opportunity while still fulfilling your work responsibilities.
3. Delineate between your workspace and your personal space.
It's
just good practice to have a spot designated for your work. Even if it is the
kitchen table, set yourself up in the morning and pack your things back up in
the evening when work time is finished. This will help you stay on track when
working, and not be tempted to work when it is your personal time. It will also
serve as an indicator to your family of when you are working and preferably not
to be disturbed.
If you are looking for more information on
telecommuting, such as how to approach your boss with the idea, you can contact
The American Telecommuting Association for some more information. They sell
some booklets on telecommuting topics, but their site
(http://www.knowledgetree.com/ata.html) also has free information available.
About the Author
Vishal P. Rao is the owner of
http://www.work-at-home-forum.com, a fast growing online community of people
who work from home.
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