Telecommuting is taking today's workplace by storm, and there's no looking back. The obvious change that has helped telecommuting snowball into a national pastime is technology. You can sit at home and access your files as if you were at your desk in the office. True, telecommuting is not for every organization, nor is it for every individual. But for those who take the time to implement carefully and support a telecommuting program, the rewards outweigh any initial investment.
Telecommuting does require careful planning before it can be tested and implemented on a wide scale.
It's not as simple as handing employees a notebook computer and sending them on their way. Technical support and the appropriate equipment are both key to preparing employees for their departure from the standard-issue cube. But just as important as the technological preparations is conducting a job and employee analysis. An employee who cannot complete work without constant supervision, for instance, is an unlikely candidate. When I tell people I manage a department of eight people, all of whom telecommute full-time, they are at first incredulous, then doubtful and then jealous.