by Joanne Cole
Telecommuting as a work phenomenon is continuing
to grow:
- In 1995, 8 million workers said they telecommuted;
- In 1997, that number rose by over 30%, to more than 11 million
telecommuters.
However, despite this rapid growth, few companies
are preparing their managers and workers to telecommute.
Benefits of Telecommuting
- Decreased air pollution and traffic congestion
- Enhanced balance of workers' work and family obligations
- Lower company overhead (savings on real estate taxes, heating,
office furnishings, etc.)
The Two Types of Telecommuters
- Workers who do not have an office to go to, who work primarily
out of their homes
- Workers who do have an office, but prefer to work out of their
homes on a regular basis
Defining Telecommuting
There is no universal definition of a telecommuter.
Some companies define a telecommuter as an employee who works at
home even two or three days a year. AT&T, a pioneer in telecommuting,
defines a telecommuter as an employee who "works out of their
home regularly at least twice a week, on average."
AT&T's Pioneering Implementation of Telecommuting
- 55% of all AT&T white-collar workers are telecommuters.
- Telecommuting work includes: sales, analytical work, writing,
and research.
- Workers remain connected to the office via: e-mail; telephone;
answering machines, voice mail, cellular phones and pagers.
Preparation for Telecommuting
Employee and supervisor agree upon:
- Productivity, work requirements, and goals
- How often the telecommuter should meet with colleagues, depending
on the needs of the department
- Work routines should fit people's schedules and organizational
demands, not vice-a-versa
A "School for Telecommuters"
In 1993, AT&T implemented a telecommuting
program in its School of Business and Technology, in Somerset, New
Jersey. Thousands of AT&T employees from coast to coast have
participated in the training.
In addition to helping workers understand the
business goals and objectives of telecommuting, the program focuses
on the practical aspects of telecommuting and virtual offices.
Interested companies can learn from AT&T's
training model, which concentrates on the "How To's":
* How to identify which employees should participate
- How to make the transition to the home environment
- How to focus on communications
- How to continue to service your customers
- How to stay connected to each other
- How to meet organizational policies and procedures
Business writer Joanne Cole is president of
New York City-based J. Cole Communications.
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