Some pollution-fighting states even mandate their agencies and businesses to support telecommuting to get cars off the roads. And pilot projects are taking root because they free up office space, offer employees flexibility and improve workers' morale. Although telecommuting has overcome logistics issues, something much more subtle is keeping it from gaining mass acceptance. A traditional workplace reluctant to change. And change must happen for telecommuting to succeed.
Managers say allowing employees to work from home demands a paradigm shift - throughout the office.
Middle managers must adjust their management styles, co-workers need to adapt and telecommuters have to redefine the way they work. It's very easy to implement, but it's breaking down the barriers. The biggest cultural blocks to telecommuting stem from managers uneasy about having employees out of the traditional work environment, she said. Given the benefits of telecommuting, a number of states are taking measures to address management concerns. To alleviate managers' worries, telecommuting officials in Oregon have created toolkits that include videotapes that provide an overview of telecommuting.