10 reasons why students should wear uniforms

Critique

Telecommuting Advantages and Benefits

Have you ever thought that it would be possible to complete your daily work duties without having to leave the luzury of your home? Has it ever occured to you with the growth of technology that this may be possible? Many of today’s people jobs, consist of utilizing some means of technology. As technology continues to advance more busineses are converting to other means of employees completeing a regiment of their work at other locations other than the office. The innovation of telecommuting has given employees the means to balance their jobs with their home life. According to Baruch (2001) the definition of telecommuting refers to employees performing some or all of their duties away from the traditional office by using information and communication technology, resulting in work being done from home, at a designated regional satellite office, or anywhere the employee is able to perform their work duties. With communtication and technology already being a luxury that many people already have in their homes, why not take advantage of it and make your home apart of your work place. Telecommuting can be a cost saving benefit that the employee and employer can benefit from. With all the changes in today’s technology and as organizations continue to grow, one of the many changes that will effect organizations is telecommuting, although there may be challenges, the end result will be very beneficial for both employees and businesses.

The history of telecommuting began with a consultant for JALA international by the name of Jack Nilles. According to Meier (2013) Jack Nilles also known as “The Father of Teleworking”, coined the term telecommuting as he was working on a communication system for NASA from home, he referred to his work situation as telecommuting. In the 1980s companies looked to telecommuting as a means to reducing costs (Kurland & Bailey, 1999). The federal Government has been encouraging telecommuting over the years for certain federal agencies. In 2010, the U.S. Federal Government passed the Telework Enhancement Act to improve the security and effectiveness of telecommuting (Meier, 2013).

Telecommuting can also be an answer to environmental issues that the earth faces today. The American commuter drives almost 4,000 miles to work and back each year, burning 190 gallons of gas according to a survey by the United States department of transportation (Holmes & Harting 1993). According to Holmes & Harting (1993) by commuting to work the American commute can cause some severe environmental consequences each year which consist of:

11 million tires worn out, 23 billion gallons of gasoline burned, 219 million tons of greenhouse-gas CO2 emitted. 1 million tons of acid-rain precursors, nitrogen oxides, 1.4 million tons of non-methane hydrocarbons, including carcinogenic benzene. Smog is brewed when sunlight cooks auto emissions. It stunts plant growth, and causes breathing problems for animals, humans included.

There are many positive manners in which telecommuting impacts employers. Businesses are affected by telecommuting from their hiring process, to their management and organizational styles. With telecommuting businesses are able to branch out their hiring process to a more geographical area. This can give the businesses more options to focus on the employee’s skill set and their potential contributions to the company, making for a wider talent pool to choose from. Businesses that telecommute are also able to accommodate employees with impairments that can make significant contributions to the company but are limited due to impairments such as a disability (Ahmadi, Helms & Ross, 2000). Young (1991), states that businesses that telecommute can achieve important managerial objectives on a broader scale by better managing administrative overhaul. Other ways telecommunication impacts businesses include greater productivity, lower absenteeism, fewer interruptions at the office, greater openness, and reduced overhead. Kurland & Bailey (1999), contend that telecommuters have a more flexible schedules which attributes to their increased productivity and less absenteeism. With telecommuting, businesses are also able to reduce costs in areas such as resources and work space. By reducing their spending on centralized locations the business are now able to focus more towards their employees and business needs.

Telecommuting is advantageous for the employee as well. Telecommuting allows the employee to work in a setting more comfortable and relaxed, allowing for the increased control over their environment and comfort level, which may enhance their productivity (Young, 1991). Employees also have other advantages that include less time commuting, less stress, comfortable work environment, flexible schedule, fewer distractions, work-family balance, and job satisfaction.

In conclusion, telecommuting can be a beneficial solution to organizations and employees. Today’s advancement in technology is making means of employment more possible to organizations. Call centers and telemarketing organizations have been benefiting from telecommuting for years now. As the world of organizational practices change, being able to adapt to those changes will help employees advance. Telecommuting is just the beginning as organizations become more technical savvy. Telecommuting has now opened the doors for more technological advancements in today’s world of business.

References

Ahmadi, M., Helms, M. M., & Ross, T. J. (2000). Technological developments: Shaping the telecommuting work environment of the future. Facilities, 18(1), 83.

Baruch, Y. (2001). The status of research on teleworking and an agenda for future research.

International Journal of Management Reviews, 3(2), 113-129.

Holmes, H., & Harting, C. (1993). Telecommuting. Garbage, 5(2), 33.

Kurland, N. B., & Bailey, D. E. (1999). Telework: The Advantages and Challenges of Working Here, There, Anywhere and Anytime. Organizational Dynamics. 28(2). 53-67

Meier, A. (Aug. 2013). Infographic: The History of Telecommuting. Retrieved from: http://www.liquidplanner.com/blog/infographic-the-history-of-telecommuting/

Young, J. A. (1991). The Advantages Of Telecommuting. Management Review 80(7). 19