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Telecommunication Technology Opens Doors to Flexible Options
April 22, 2005
By Kathy A. Johnson
kathy.johnson@hqpublications.com
Business Programs Columnist
Telecommunication technology has made the virtual office a virtual reality. Telecommunication equipment helps employees scattered all over the country--and sometimes the world--work together while working apart.
Does your job involve a long commute, extra hours away from home and family, or enough distractions to make your work difficult? There may be a solution for these problems: telecommuting.
Who uses telecommunication technology?
A 2004 survey by The Diering Research Group reported that 24.1 million "teleworkers" worked from home least one day per month in the last year. Telecommuters come from many different industries, work full or part time, work exclusively off site, or divide work hours between office and home.
What are the benefits?
Flexibility, a relaxed environment, and reduced expenses (from gas, lunches out, dry cleaning) rank as favorite benefits of telecommuting. Workers with children especially appreciate the chance to set their own hours.
"I and my coworkers enjoyed working from home so much and our productivity…increased [so] substantially that our corporate office chose to close our office suite and move all 18 employees to full-time virtual positions rather than renew our annual lease," commented Jeannie Burch, who edits law books and began telecommuting part time last summer.
Making it work for you
To make telecommuting work, "You need a high degree of self-discipline and past record of doing well in 'homework.' In addition, keep your telecommuting tasks well defined and with definite deadlines. If you don't have external deadlines, set your own goals and follow them!" advised Beth Blickensderfer, an assistant professor at a private university who divides her job between home and office.
Self-discipline will be necessary not only to keep you focused on work, but also to help you stop working. Some people find themselves working more hours than when they worked in an office. "I sometimes work seven days a week to stay caught up, and I take my laptop with me on vacation," admitted Jennifer Tabb Black, who works for a seafood ingredients trading business.
What about disadvantages?
While telecommuting can be a great option, there are some drawbacks. Technological challenges were cited by all, and most mentioned isolation or feeling "out of the loop" of the office. "It can be very lonely when everything is done electronically…. It can be hard to stay on top of market trends, last minute changes, and urgent items when everyone is in a different time zone," commented Black.
Interruptions and distractions can also plague telecommuters, especially if children are at home. Childcare may still be necessary to allow you to focus on your work. "I combat interruptions by…asking them if I was still at the office would this matter be important enough to call me? If not, please wait until I am finished with my work," said Burch.
Does telecommuting sound worth trying? Check with your employer to see what telecommunication options your company offers.
About the Author:
Kathy A. Johnson is a freelance writer and editor based in Florida. She has worked as a writer and editor for several publications, writing articles on a wide variety of topics. She and her husband owned and operated an insurance and financial services company for 13 years.
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