Why You Should Consider Telecommuting

Technological advances allow indeed an ever-increasing number of people to work remotely. But while it seems to become more and more acceptable (and profitable) to employers, a few obstacles remain for some of them.
Some companies such as Yahoo, Best Buy and Hewlett Packard have decided to scale back or end their telecommuting options over the last couple of years. The rationale advanced by executives was that their employees needed to work side by side in order to foster creativity and engagement.
On the other hand, many research suggest that telecommuting has a positive impact on employee productivity and satisfaction. A Stanford university study found that telecommuters are 13% more productive and 50% less likely to quit than their in-office colleagues. Offering the opportunity to work partly from home is also a way to attract new employees.
Working from home means less gas and work-related expenses for an employee, as well as decreased day-care expenses for parents. Companies on the other hand save money directly on real estate and related costs, and indirectly by increasing worker productivity and lowering turnover.
While some may need access to specific equipment in the workplace, in the U.S. alone, 64 million jobs are already considered to be compatible with teleworking at least part-time. For that reason, every company should consider the pros and cons of telecommuting. And if they decide to implement a system allowing it, they should provide proper training and tools. Employers need to also implement collaboration software and ways for people to communicate outside of e-mail, and to give workers access to people in the company who have the information that can help them do their jobs.
Source: Geoffroy Vandenput