May 29, 2007

Telecommuting: 1 Part technology, 5 Parts process

For those who want to work at home and the businesses who try to arrange for them to do so, if you think it's all about the technology you're wrong. Sitting in many cubicle's across America and Europe are much of the technology you already need. A phone (VOIP or cell) and notebook computer.

However, putting a notebook computer and VOIP phone in a home does not make you a telecommuter.

NFIB writes that telecommuting employees should :

1. Be made to feel that they are part of the company, not working for themselves in a distant or "loose" connection with the company's operations and goals.

2. Understand that their work is under direct guidance of management, and that they are not working in a vacuum.

3. Remain on a career path within the company so they do not consider their work a dead end without potential salary growth and/or promotion potential.

As you develop your telecommuting strategy, don't just think about the technology (security is important too, by the way) think about the employee who will be working alone - for the entire week or part of the week.

How will they keep in touch with the company news - public and "gossip". How will their performance be measured compared to an employee who is always visible to the boss?

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