Weigh the Benefits and Risks of Telecommuting

Best Practices for Teleconferencing with Employees Working Remotely

I’ve touched on telecommuting quite a bit since taking the helm on the New Tools for IT blog (probably too much, if you ask my editor). Perhaps it’s because I telecommute most of the time and know firsthand the benefits, both personally and professionally, of being able to work from home.

For example, I tend to log in to work a bit early since I don’t have to worry about a commute. When my brain gets fuzzy from staring at my screen too much, I can go throw in a load of laundry or run a quick errand to step away and come back with a fresh mind. And since we all know that sitting at a desk all day is killing us, I can even roll out my yoga mat and do a few quick stretches to counteract the sitting and, again, come back more focused. Happy employees = more productive employees, right?

But telecommuting isn’t all sunshine and roses. There is some risk involved, and a few bad apples can take advantage of the privilege and ruin it for everyone. That’s why it’s important to set clear goals and accountability for your telecommuters; otherwise, you and your organization won’t reap the benefits.

In my previous posts, I’ve included a few tools from our IT Downloads library that will help you calculate your cost savings, write up a telework agreement and also make sure you cover all of your bases when setting up a telework arrangement.

But let’s take a few steps back. What if you’re just now considering it for your employees? Well, that brings us to the point of this post, which is to highlight a new addition to the IT Downloads library.

In “Telecommuting: Benefits, Risks, Tips and More,” we’ve pulled together several resources to help you weigh the risks and benefits of telecommuting. It includes the risks involved, as well as tips for setting up such a program and motivating your virtual teams. You’ll even find readings from IT Business Edge that touch on current headlines surrounding telecommuting. It’s a comprehensive document that you’ll want to have on hand when and if you decide to make the case for telework.

Now, if you’ll excuse me. I need to throw in another load of laundry and start thinking of a new topic to write about.