Telecommuting became popular a few years ago. Many companies have embraced it, while others tried it temporarily and pulled back when glitches came up. But the overall trend is still moving in the direction of telecommuting. There are a variety of situations where this is the ideal work environment, and other situations where telecommuting isn’t the best idea. Let’s explore the issues.

Why Businesses Embrace Telecommuting

Businesses incur significant expenses to keep employees on site. Keeping up computers, phone lines, break rooms, and other office equipment is expensive. Add in the costs if IT support, housekeeping, and other expenses, and keeping employees on-site isn’t always advantageous.

Besides, the traditional work model of requiring employees to report and serve a specific number of hours is not motivating to get the job done. However, allowing employees the liberty to get the work done and enjoy more time for themselves gets the work done faster.

Other considerations are workman’s comp insurance. When the employees work on site, employers incur liabilities for injuries or hazards, such as exposure to allergens or environmental toxins. Even tripping on a ripple in the carpet incurs liabilities. Workers at home don’t have these issues, lowering the cost of insurance, as well as the cost of paying claims and offering time off of work.

Why Employees Embrace Telecommuting

Many employees enjoy the freedom from a daily commute, as well as the savings from transportation such as gas for the car, wear and tear on the vehicle, and oil changes.

Employees also enjoy savings from buying work clothes, daycare expenses, lunches out, and other costs of working away from home. But cost isn’t the only factor for employees. Many of them enjoy more time with their families, less scrutiny from bosses and coworkers, and even the environmental benefits associated with fewer commuters on the roadways and railways.

Plus, telecommuters can generally choose what computers, phones, and other devices they use for work, without being forced to use whatever the company buys. Particularly if you’re running a lean start-up, it’s fairly reasonable to expect employees to use their own cell phone plans (which may or may not be reimbursed or partially reimbursed). This can save your company significant expenses if you institute it properly.

When Telecommuting is the Best Idea

Certain jobs lend more easily to telecommuting than others. Jobs that don’t have to be done during certain hours of the day are particularly easy to telecommute. Businesses that need to cut expenses such as energy bills, housekeeping costs, IT staff costs, the costs of upkeeping break rooms, and other expenses. Telecommuting is ideal for creative workers, who need constant inspiration for new ideas.

Jobs that involve production levels, not specific time limitations, lend best to telecommuting. Workers can create their own schedules for completing assignments, so long as the work is completed by the deadline. Telecommuters should always have access to someone on site, however, so that any questions or issues can be addressed quickly and in a satisfactory manner.

When Telecommuting is Not the Best Idea

Though there are ways around many of the obstacles of telecommuting, there are some things to consider before employing these initiatives. First, some jobs require special equipment. If the employee isn’t able to bring this type of equipment home, telecommuting isn’t a good option.

Many jobs that revolve around the clock, such as manning phone lines during business hours, can be done at home, but there are limitations. For example, employees with kids or pets might have trouble keeping the kids quiet while speaking with customers.

It’s also harder to maintain a corporate culture with large numbers of telecommuting workers. Some ways to maintain a culture include regular in office meetings or web conferences, but these still don’t foster the same relationships as working side by side each day.

Telecommuting offers many benefits to both employees and employers. Not only will it save employers money, but it makes employees happier and more productive. Has your workplace experimented with telecommuting employees? Were the cost savings and other benefits as good as you expected?