Reasons for Telecommuting: Employer and Employee Benefits

It is a Win-Win!

Telecommuting is more than working from home in your jammies! There are reasons for telecommuting that benefit both the employer and the employees.

Telecommuting is an alternative to working from a central location. For instance, employees working from home—or any other remote location—use electronic media and other technology to maintain contact and interact with managers, co-workers, clients and customers.

Why would an employer offer telecommuting to their employees? In other words, how can this working arrangement benefit an employer? All reasons for telecommuting should add up to one purpose: helping an employer aim for and achieve their business objectives.

1. Provides opportunities to "Go Green:" Many businesses are looking for ways to join the growing new wave of improving the environment. By allowing employees to work from home, employers can do their part in reducing energy costs by helping to conserve fuel. Also, fewer cars on the road mean less congestion and pollution.
2. Increases recruiting pool for hiring and retaining diversified, skilled and talented employees: By adopting telecommuting (and other flexible scheduling), employers have a wider and diverse pool of skilled and talented workers. If you have qualified candidates scattered in distant directions, you aren’t limiting yourself to the immediate area. Telecommuting can also help retain your experienced employees; recent surveys indicate that some employees say they must look for work closer to home because they cannot afford the increasing commuting costs. 
3. Saves on overhead (facilities and office space) costs and increases productivity. Employers can significantly save on expensive furniture, premium office space and energy-related expenses. Distractions and interruptions are minimized and commuting time is eliminated; telecommuting employees also report a much higher productivity rate.

What makes telecommuting attractive to employees? What are the advantages and benefits?

1. Greater autonomy: Today’s workforce highly values a flexible workplace. Employees appreciate having more control and freedom over their schedules. They are also happier when they have more say about balancing their work and life commitments. Happier employees are more productive and loyal.
2. Promotes family consciousness: By rearranging their work schedules, some two-income families figure out ways to reduce or eliminate expensive child care costs. For instance, I know several parents who home-school their children. They jointly handle their children’s lessons; one parent teaches certain lessons and the other parent teaches other subjects. Many employees are also balancing work and caring for elderly parents.
3. Reduces stress and promotes higher productivity: When employees spend less time commuting and overcoming interruptions and other cubicle distractions, they will also enjoy greater productivity. According to a work/life balance article published in April 2007 by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), nearly 90 percent of telecommuting employees reported that their productivity had improved.

To find that competitive edge, employers today need to find innovative and effective ways for attracting and retaining top talent. By evaluating the reasons for telecommuting and providing alternative work arrangements, you can gain competitive advantages over other employers who are trying to (1) recruit the same employees you need and (2) woo away your experienced and valued employees.

Telecommuting is more than working from home in your jammies! This flexible work arrangement is also designed to help a business aim for and achieve its business objectives.