Conclusion
When I am asked about working from home, my response is immediate and always the same: "It's really, really hard." A management team sees it as a privilege, which it certainly is. Telecommuting is an exercise in trust and discipline, but it is not an insurmountable challenge. By maintaining a routine of regularity, establishing a functional work space, and minimizing distractions, the effective employee can overcome the novelty, and combat the perception that telework translates to mistrust and lost productivity.
More and more businesses are looking to telework in an era of domestic and overseas outsourcing - but also while considering environmental concerns, rising gas prices, and struggling employee morale. (To be sure, we spend an enormous amount of time in our cars, staring at brakelights, fuming at the eternal congestion ahead. We arrive at work sullen and tired, and attempt to start our day. When lunchtime arrives, $5-10 is shelled out for processed fast food or microwaved TV dinner. The day ends with another commute, and then it all starts again. Whether a company chooses to adopt a telecommuting policy is a topic for another time.) But if and when employees are allowed to work from home, following a few simple guidelines can alleviate many of the fears behind telework. Setting up a capable home office, establishing capabilities to work remotely as a team, and recognizing the inevitable challenges employees will face all combine to result in effective telecommuting.