Office Resources: A Telecommuting and Teleworking Guide

Article brought to you by: Phillip Donaldson

The workplace is an ever-changing environment. It was only a few generations ago that people worked long hours at a business for minimal amount of money. In time, the workplace changed so that it became a nice place to work. With improvements in office furniture, lighting and other working conditions, it became a welcome place to spend your 40 hours per week.

With the improvements in technology and with the needs of workers and employers changing, more jobs have been able to be accomplished by way of telecommuting or teleworking. These jobs can range from freelance work from employers to part-time jobs that can be completed in a relatively short period of time to businesspeople that travel extensively and have the ability to complete their work outside the office. These changes have been made possible by improvements in technology with wireless connectivity to the Internet, utilization of laptops, tablets and smart phones for access to files, and even the ability to share computers remotely. These changes have made telecommuting and teleworking as a feasible supplement to the traditional workforce.

While working remotely can have benefits such as bringing work to where employees are and working at a time and place at is convenient to the worker. However, it also has disadvantages such as not having direct feedback with other workers and the inability to have immediate feedback on work projects. Working remotely has increased and greatly improved over the past several years. However, it is unlikely that it will ever completely replace the traditional workplace.

To learn more about the pros and cons of telecommuting, we have put together this helpful resource guide to review. We hope this helps answer some questions about working outside the office.

What is Telecommuting?

• How Telecommuting Works - Simple explanation of how telecommuting functions from a technology basis.
• Telecommunication Revolution - Informative MSN article on how the future of business will include telecommuting.
• Telecommuting Defined - Basic definition of telecommuting in the business world.
• Telecommuting Survey – Information on telecommuting with a survey showing that it is on the rise.
• Telecommuting Information – Helpful page providing information and resources for people interested in telecommuting.
• Workplace Alternative – Informative article on how working away from the office has become an alternative to the traditional workplace.

What is Teleworking?

• Telework – Government website which provides information on teleworking jobs in the workplace.
• What is Teleworking? – Simple definition of what teleworking means and how it differs from telecommuting.
• Pros and Cons – Listing of the pluses and minuses of teleworking for employers and employees.
• Telework FAQ – A number of questions and answers about teleworking in the government sector.
• Telework Definition – Basic description of what a teleworking job is and how it functions.

Advantages

• Advantages of Telecommuting – Useful look at telecommuting and what some of the advantages are to workers and employers.
• Benefits of Telecommuting – Helpful article listing ten reasons why telecommuting is beneficial.
• Telecommuting Advantages – Informative page providing a number of advantages for workers and businesses.
• Telecommuting Benefits – Article from the Washington Post outlining how telecommuting has helped in U.S. government jobs.

Disadvantages

• Telecommuting Disadvantages – Article from PC World giving seventeen disadvantages for telecommuting.
• Disadvantages of Telecommuting – Helpful article explaining why telecommuting is not for everyone.
• Employer Disadvantages – Information on some of the disadvantages for employers in telecommuting.
• Work at Home Disadvantages – Useful web page telling of some of the disadvantages to working at home.

Telecommuting Workers

• Telecommuting Workers – Interesting articles showing that about 20% of the workers around the world work remotely.
• Who Telecommutes? – Basic information on which categories of employees can work remotely.
• Who is Telecommuting? – Article listing some of the types of jobs that are being done by telecommuting and which are not.
• Teleworking and the Disabled – Informative page providing reasons why teleworking or telecommuting may be valid alternatives for disabled workers.
• Hidden Costs of Telecommuting – Article from the Wall Street Journal telling how allowing workers to telecommute may cost businesses money.
• Telecommuting Mothers – Listing of five reasons why telecommuting may be good for stay at home mothers.

Technology

• Technology Use – Helpful page showing that technology is important to making telecommuting a success.
• Technology Improves Tele Jobs – Information on how the use of technology and the types of technology improves teleworking performances.
• Telecommuting for Your Company – Article telling how telecommuting can benefit a company.
• Telework and Technology – Informative article providing information on how technology functions in teleworking.
• Telecommuting and Technology – Useful article giving guidance on the technology used in telecommuting.

We hope that this page provides you with information about telecommuting and teleworking. These types of jobs have become more prominent in the workplace, and has benefited many employers and employees. However, it will never replace the traditional office workplace in the business world.