Written by <a href='/home/64-pdmiller/profile.html'>Penny Miller</a>
A lot of companies have or are considering allowing employees to work from home. Should you?
There are obvious advantages to a telecommuting work arrangement: - Less office space (less rent, lower utility costs) - Recruitment and retention
However, there are many things that need to be considered in order for a telecommuting work arrangement to be effective:
- The type of job: Some jobs are more easily done in a telecommuting arrangement. Other types of jobs just cannot be done anywhere but at the workplace. - The personality of the employee: Not all employees can work in this type of arrangement. If an employee has a high need for interpersonal interaction, they may not like working in isolation. - Teamwork: Most jobs, even those which are highly autonomous, rely upon teamwork. How will you ensure the feeling of team in a workforce that is not co-located? - Performance management: How will you determine how well the employee is doing the job if you cannot see them? - Technology: A virtual environment relies on technology. You need to consider what type of technology is most effective as well as the training and expertise of your workforce. - Security: How do you keep your company information secure?
None of these issues are insurmountable, but they do require planning and attention.