Telecommuting

The typical workplace cubicle environment is not conducive to productive work. There are too many people, for one thing. They walk past (frequently talking to other people or shouting into cell phones); they stop to talk (to you and to your cubicle neighbors). Telephones ring, impromptu meetings take place in the hallway, fluorescent lights flicker, popcorn and lunch smells float past from the microwave. It’s barely possible to think, nearly impossible to concentrate. Anyone who believes that much real, useful, work can get done in this environment is deluding himself.

[ Dilbert, Sept. 18, 2004 ]

Personally, I get a lot more work done at home. I have a terrific home office. I also have a proven track record of telecommuting successfully. My current job would be perfect for a telecommute for many reasons, especially due to the fact that I rarely need to interact in person with other people.

As recommended by many telecommuting references, I prepared a written proposal.

I laid out a number of points that support my ability to work at home, including:

My work requires minimal supervision and only infrequent interaction with other people (most of my job is done alone at my desk and/or via email).
My work requires frequent periods of concentration and uninterrupted thought.
Successful telecommuting requires excellent communication; my job is highly oriented towards communication.
Progress and results for the type of work I do are easily measured; in fact, my role is perfectly suited for Management by Objectives and so-called “SMART” goals
My work habits lend themselves well to telecommuting; I normally spend a lot of time in front of the computer; I am highly experienced in using electronic communication; I produce regular status reports and work by milestones
I have telecommuted before when I worked in similar roles.
I have a large, private office which functions solely as my personal workspace; I have my own network connection, printer, computer, etc.
Studies show that productivity increases for employees who telecommute.
I am more likely to work longer on a project when there is no sharp delineation between “work” and “home”.
One less person on site reduces the potential for distraction to co-workers (typing sounds, moving about, …)
California wants companies to provide incentives for employees to rideshare, carpool, use public transportation, or telecommute.
Best of all, for my current position, I live less than 3 miles away from the Company. If called upon to do so, I could be in a meeting with less than 10 minutes notice.

I got all my ducks in order, then presented the proposal to my manager. My plan was approved. I tried a prototype, working at home for a day. It was highly successful. Not only was I productive, I worked for nine and a half hours without even registering the time.

Then I made my big mistake (shooting myself in the metaphorical foot… and my plan in the head). I announced my intentions. (It seemed like the right thing to do).

Apparently other people in the Company would like to telecommute as well (yeah? so?). I don’t know their situations; I don’t know if they have ever prepared a written proposal. All I know is that management at the Company I work for is infected with FUD. 😦

“We Can’t Allow This to Happen!” they apparently cried. And then they shut me down.

Damn.

I have to ask, if people want to telecommute, why is this a major issue? The decision to allow or disallow telecommuting should be made on a case by case basis, taking into account each employee’s position, history, motivation, and abilities. Good employees don’t need supervision to work well (nor do good managers need to supervise closely, in order to validate their position). Management by objectives and results is a far better approach for all concerned.

It is easy to determine if, and how much, an employee can telecommute effectively. If, after a trial period, it turns out that a given employee is unable to telecommute effectively, that decision can and should be made (again, on a case by case basis).

Telecommuting has become much more popular and much more feasible in the past few years. Many factors, including reducing road congestion and air pollution, as well as a proven increase in employee productivity, support positive telecommuting policies. The State of California now requires that State agencies develop and implement telecommuting plans (CA Government Code Section 14200-14203).

A summary “no” to requests from employees to telecommute is no longer a valid or supportable position. Many references are available that explain the hows and whys of telecommuting. My Company (and probably yours as well) needs to become educated and enlightened. Each Company needs to put a positive, supportive, telecommuting policy in place.

I’m not giving up. I’m going to fight for this. For one thing, if I have to keep going into “work” every day, hiding under my noise canceling headphones, seething at the frustration of working in a noisy, distracting environment with suboptimal lighting… I won’t last very long. And then what will I do?!?!

I have my proposal and my references; if necessary, I’ll take my fight up the management chain. I have to… it’s the only way I’ll survive.

How about you?

And the only reason I’m singing you this song now is cause you may know somebody in a similar situation, or you may be in a similar situation, and if you’re in a situation like that there’s only one thing you can do and that’s walk into the shrink wherever you are, just walk in and say “Shrink, You can get anything you want, at Alice’s restaurant.”. And walk out. You know, if one person, just one person does it they may think he’s really sick and they won’t take him. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony, they may think they’re both faggots and they won’t take either of them. And if three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people walking in singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and walking out. They may think it’s an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I said fifty people a day walking in singin a bar of Alice’s Restaurant and walking out. And friends they may think it’s a movement.

Excerpt from Alice’s Restaurant, by Arlo Guthrie

Let’s get a Telecommuting Movement going. Good luck to y’all!

References:

The following provides a quick overview of telecommuting:

California Smart Valley Telecommuting Guide

The State of California is in favor of telecommuting:

From The State of California Telework-Telecommuting Program: 1983–21st Century

“The State of California was the first state government in the United States to embark upon the idea that work could be performed in other than conventional offices that are typically located in central business districts.”

The State of California, in their 1990 Telecommuting Pilot Project, found that

Telecommuter work effectiveness has fulfilled or exceeded expectations
Telecommuting enhances the quality of work life for telecommuters, …
Results-oriented management techniques have proven to be an effective tool for telecommuting-as well as for non-telecommuters.
Telecommuters generally experienced more positive changes in their personal and their work relationships than did the members of the control group
Telecommuting has been shown to have significant potential for reducing traffic congestion, air pollution and energy use.
Telecommuting More Than Pays Its Way

Links:

The State of Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources made similar findings in a
1994 study; the study found that telecommuters were:

as productive as, or more productive than, their non-telecommuting workers,
happier, more dedicated employees,
better able to balance the pressures of their work and family lives, and
reduced vehicular air pollution, highway congestion and transportation fuel use.

In addition:

The California Clean Air Act mandates large employers in California to help meet or exceed local and regional air quality standards. In 1992, the act was amended to give these regulated employers credit for each employee who telecommutes at least one day each week.

Quite a few California Assembly and Senate bills mention telecommuting in relation to congestion management, pollution management, proposed tax credits, etc.

The California Energy Commission notes that nationally, about 11 million people or 9 percent of the workforce telecommute at least once a month (article

“Health Care Organizations Credit Telecommuting with Productivity Gains, Cost Savings and Reduced Traffic” (Oregon Dept. of Energy article)

More…

You may find many of the documents on this site to be of value and assistance:

Risk Management Internet Services —
Resource for Enterprise Risk Management

Category : Human Resources – Telecommuting:

Sample telecommuting programs, checklists and forms.
Telecommuting manuals and guidelines
Cost-benefit analysis.
Answers to frequently asked questions about various telework and telecommuting issues.

One response to “Telecommuting”

Anonymous

December 11, 2007 at 7:07 am

I’ve been working from home since 1994. Prior to that I worked in the standard corporate office setup. I remember thinking just a couple days ago after wrapping up an important project working as a consultant (costing a lot more) for that very same company “I don’t know what they paid me for when I worked directly for them.” I never was productive…unless of course the days I was when I worked from home on a “special project.” The standard office setup is set up to be unproductive. If some open-minded managers would venture to at least try some telecommuting scenarios, they may find an incredible increase in their productivity!

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