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Telecommuting can be a win-win solution for employers and workers if used in the right situations, for the right reasons and with the right tools
Telecommuting has become part of the lives of many professionals who stay highly productive without going to the office five days a week. According to research findings released in October 2000 by the International Telework Assn. & Council (ITAC; Washington, D.C.), the number of telecommuters in the U.S. has increased by around 13 million since 1999, bringing the total number of telecommuters to over 20 million.
Chemical engineers who work in the plant, lab or office might think that their telecommuting opportunities are limited. Face-time is critical in the chemical process industries (CPI), especially for those working with a team on a project. But teleworkers do not necessarily have to be out of the loop. This article discusses the best practices for telecommuting, steering the reader clear of implementation potholes while dispelling the misconceptions that have thwarted successful implementation of telework programs (box, p. 144).
Telecommuting - the real deal
If you made a list of your most common job tasks, you may be surprised to find how many are portable - accomplished easily with a telephone, computer and Internet access. In fact, if you regularly read or write reports at home, check email from a hotel room or the airport, or fax documents from somewhere other than your work office, you are telecommuting.*
One of the biggest obstacles to telecommuting in any workplace is its definition. Many wary executives, managers and even workers have hindered the widespread acceptance of telecommuting by making false assumptions about it. Executives may envision telecommuting to be a drain on resources; managers believe they will lose control over remote employees. Some workers may think it's a way to save on child care or sleep late.
The truth about telecommuting is that it can actually save employers thousands of dollars a year, due to space savings, productivity improvements and employee retention. Furthermore, if properly implemented and managed, it gives managers more control over employee work output, and it enables highly efficient employees to thrive by providing an environment in which they have the trust and flexibility to complete work-related tasks while balancing their work...