Introduction
Having been one of the millions of everyday people looking for job opportunities at one time or another, many have envied the prospect of telecommuting without thinking that there were any downsides to the life of telecommuting. However, this paper will address the notion that there are some drawbacks and that job seekers should consider both the advantages and disadvantages before deciding to telecommute. Although telecommuting is increasing in popularity, potential employees must consider multiple issues before deciding to join the telecommuting life.
This paper will give a definition of telecommuting, review information that shows the incidences of telecommuting is on the rise but administrative leadership is not embracing
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Telework has been made simple with a number of different pieces of technology which include the internet, cell phones, fax machines, etc. Telecommuters also have the capability to set up webcams and conference calls.
Equipment necessary to conduct business is usually supplied by the company and the employee has the responsibility to supply an area that is suitable as a work space. Most positions have flexible working hours as long as the work is complete and deadlines are met. Telecommuting also comes with the obvious advantages such as decreasing or eliminating expenses such as commuting expenses, lunch/snacks, clothing, childcare, etc.
Who Participates in Telecommuting
According to the American Community Survey (ACS) cited in the research conducted Lister and Harnish (Lister & Harnish, 2011), the statistics indicated that while the regular work force development varied year to year, telecommuting showed a growth rate of 61% between 2005 to 2009, with the Federal Government showing the largest amount of growth. The federal worker’s telecommuting growth was driven by such issues as pandemic threats like the bird and swine flus. Natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and ‘Snowmageddon’, also contributed to the development of the “continuity of
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Martin and MacDonnell, in there article “Is Telework Effective for Organization”, present evidence supporting the fact that while decision makers have not embrace the idea of telecommuting, there is benefit to the organization in this form of work. They also discuss some of the same potential benefits discussed in the American Community Survey such as stability during potential pandemics and natural disasters (Martin & MacDonnell, 2012). Martin and MacDonnell conclude that organizations should consider implementation of telecommuting in hope of being part of the future work force. Included in the list of benefits are cost savings (transportation, clothes, child care, etc.) and environmental benefits when employees work from home. Martin and MacDonnell conclude that organizations should consider implementation of telecommuting in hope of being part of the future work
In the previous study, the authors stated that there are various studies about the telecommuting include references to corporate attitudes toward telecommuting, motivation, productivity, supervision and employee satisfaction.
Managers must realize the benefits from teleworking and ways to improve the effectiveness of telework. I believe characteristics of a good tele-managers have 1) flexible thinking and managerial skills, 2) the ability to work with the big picture, 3) knows how to fix problems quickly, 4) exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, 5) good rapport with workers/employees, 6) caring and supportive, and 7) earned the trust of their employees. (Global Workplace Analytics: Making the Case for Place, Lister & Harnish September
One of the major issues presented in That Used to Be Us is the U.S.’s substandard education system. Friedman and Mandelbaum explain how the IT revolution and globalization threaten everyone’s job, no matter how secure that job may seem. The level of skill needed for a good job is increasingly being raised, and competition for those jobs is increasing as the IT revolution gives even more people access to cheap tools of connectivity, creativity, and collaboration. This allows an entirely different class of worker to join the marketplace; low-wage and high-skilled. As the staggering growth of IT continues, the world will continue “flattening”, connecting more people and allowing them to interact and compete. The authors contend that these advancements are forcing companies to use online tools to become more
Yet, in a unique paradoxical way, the convenience of being able to avoid face to face interaction, or any means of transport, becomes inconvenient and sometimes ineffective due a phenomenon known as virtual distance (Lojeski & Reilly, 2007). While the dynamics of conducting business virtually present appealing opportunities in terms of staff flexibility, cost effectiveness and the elimination of geographical barriers (Pacuraru, 2012), virtual distance presents obstacles that leaders must strive, continuously, to overcome (Lojeski & Reilly, Traditional hierarchical companies are now flattening their leadership models to facilitate involvement of staff, throughout all levels within their organization (Gil-Estallo, Dolors, Aparicio-Valverde, Ferruz-Periz & Escardibul-Ferra, 2000). Technology advancement provides the mechanisms for this communication to occur in the form of emails, shared sites, instant messaging, teleconferencing and a host of other alternatives to face-to-face
Telehealth definition according to our textbook by Hebda, T., & Czar, P., 2013 is the use of telecommunications technologies and electronic information to exchange healthcare information and to provide and support services such as long-distance clinical healthcare to clients. It provides health care to patients that may not be able to have access to care. Telehealth requires a patient to have electronic tools to facilitate this type of service. Electronic tools can be a telephone, computer, or a video camera. The patient is able to call or enable video conferencing to have access to their health care provider.
Merrill Lynch started a program where potential telecommuters working at the firm, go through an extensive training course by taking a two-week stint in a simulation lab where they are isolated from co-workers and managers just as they would at home. Some people find it more productive, while others realize that telecommuting is not for them. Most telecommuters will find the job comfortable if they themselves are self-motivated and focused. According to Gil Gordon, a telecommuting consultant in New Jersey, if you would like your firm to offer telecommuting, go in with a proposal, not a request. Show your boss why telecommuting will benefit the company.
Working in today’s society has changed in the last few decades. The economy and technology are the main reasons for this change. The type of job and environment where one works has also changed. The fact that many people work from home via the internet has drastically changed the workforce and the environment surrounding it. With this change have come new demands, expectations, and opportunities for employers. Everyone deals with these demands differently, affecting the employee’s quality of life and job satisfaction. Though the job and office types and locations have changed over the years the need for job satisfaction has not. In today’s economy the job is not as stable as it used to be. One must be prepared for changes in the future.
One of the main driving factors for any company is economics and how will telecommuting allow the corporation to be profitable. The primary saving for companies embarking upon the telecommuting concept is the reduction in the amount of office space required to conduct business. Telecommuting benefits the employer because they have an expanded pool of employees. The skills of employees with commuting difficulties, childcare conflict, disabilities, geographical barriers are made available to a telecommuting employer. Companies are now starting to expanding oversees where the labor price is cheaper for telecommuting. This however can be looked at as both an advantage to the employer, and as a disadvantage to the employee.
The workplace today goes beyond just the walls and ceilings that surround an office environment or office building. According to the International Telework Association and Council, 44.4 million Americans worked from home at least part of the time in 2004, up 7.5% from just on year earlier (Earthweb, 2005). Though it may be very convenient to work from home, the choice can bring its own set of problems. There are financial reasons, efficiencies, and even managing time are just a few to name that bring about many challenges and issues that any remote employee would face in that type of work environment.
During the past decade, the internet has revolutionized and changed the way organizations do business by offering rapid communication systems and enhanced information access and innovation of technological advancements have created a brave new workplace. Further, the internet enables organizations to decrease expenses, reduce product life cycle time, market goods and services more efficiently (Anandarajan et al, 2000). However, with these kinds of benefits, the internet provides employees with a technique
What is telecommuting, and why would anyone want to either be employed by or employ others to work from their home? The telecommuting employees are “Salaried employees of an organization replace or modify the commute by working at home or a location closer to home than the regular workplace, generally using ICT to support productivity and communication with the supervisor, co-workers, clients, and other colleagues.” (Hoang, Nickerson, Beckman, & Eng, 2008) and according to studies 47 percent of telecommuting workers report that they are more productive while working from home due to a lessening of stress and increased satisfaction in their career - while their employers glean the benefit of saving 63 percent of the cost of absenteeism and save thousands of dollars annually over traditionally employed workers. (Potter, 2003) While some may say that in order to function properly in a workplace you have to be in the workplace, with minor adjustments in technology on both the employer’s and employee’s part telecommuting has become a proven, viable way for businesses to function profitably while their workforce remains able to reduce the stress of commuting on their personal and family lives.
The recent revolution of internet and dot-com boom has brought more people familiar to computers and the Internet. It seems like that we can hardly find our way through everyday life with out using or having an internet connected computer next to us. The way we think, live, and communicate was changed once for all with the invention of networked communication of computers. Computers are no longer a piece of machine that sits on top of our desk for us to admire the marvelous technology brought by the geeks and freaks of 80's, but for us to constantly use and put in to work. And in a way, environment which we live in, the society, schools, jobs, forces us to make friends with that technology. Just like when you don't have a telephone you will have hard time communicate with meeting with your friends, absence of instant messaging programs, or ability to use one, will place you out of the circle of events happening with the friends, or don't let you do the work as fast or as good as the one who uses the technology. This is one of the reasons why increasing number of people choose to have computers and internet as a prime communication tool not only between friends and for socialization, but for everyday life. People are increasingly finding new ways of getting things done not by the waiting at the other end of the phone line, but clicking the way through a certain web pages, or typing their message on emails and messenger program. On-line part of the business of almost all industries, not only limited to the dot-com companies but other 'traditional' businesses as well, has been increasingly finding it self positioning more valuable and growing in potential. We are all too familiar with the online shopping sites and class websites that we use almost everyday in a very handy way of getting things done.
But in the use of the term “technology” today, there is far more associated meaning than automobiles or washing machines. It has ushered in an entirely new way of working, and in increasing numbers of organizations, increased options of just where work associated with a particular job will be done. More employees than ever have the option of working at home yet still being employed either full...
With the rise of mobile working whereby companies employ from different regions without necessarily having employees enclosed in one building, they end up employing more skilled and qualified workers regardless of their location. This has been made possible by companies embracing virtual meetings and video conferencing where managers and
The rapid development of information systems and technology brings some positive effects to individuals. In order to use information systems effectively, individuals need to acquire skills and knowledge on using different computer technology. Take an example of an individual working in a project on market research, he needs to learn the way to use spreadsheets for analysing the data. The new knowledge acquired by the individuals will lead to upskilling effect. The innovation of technology brings a lot more new channels of communication, such as e-mail and instant messaging applications, it increases interaction between individuals. The barriers of location is eliminated by technology, people can communicate with one another in anywhere around the world through Internet. In addition, virtual office and work from home are becoming a common practice for companies, people can enjoy more flexibility in working locations and hours, and this is particularly beneficial to individuals who have young children at h...