My last job was perfect for telecommuting. I was in Orange, CA and the computer is in Allen, TX. As a Data Management Analyst, my job was to process accounts receivable data that was sent to Texas from companies all over the country. I would analyze the data for completeness and correctness and load it into the database. If there was a problem, I would write an Easytrieve Plus program to fix it, or contact the customer to see if they could fix it on their end. (It was almost always quicker and easier for me to write a program than for the customer to fix it, and the customers appreciated the attention to their accounts.) I would also write JCL to make the programs run. All of the reports and data I needed were online, so there was no reason for me to have a physical desk in a central site. All programming requests from team members were submitted to me by e-mail, which gave me a “to-do” list allowed be to queue the requests in order of priority. My “internal customers” were all over the country. In short, all I needed to do my job was a computer connected to the mainframe, and a telephone.
I tried to get the director to allow me to telecomute, and he was for it until we got a new VP who believed that everyone should be in the same building. (“If I can’t see you, you’re not working.” Hey, that’s why we have status reports!) I couldn’t even get them to allow me to work out of the Bothell, WA office – that is, to come into an actual company facility where people could see me.
Telecommuting has myriad advantages. The employee benefits through reduced costs of commuting, lower stress, and improved “quality of life”; non-telecommuters benefit through reduced traffic on the roads; the environment benefits because fewer cars equals reduced pullution; companies benefit because they can use less office space and save money on leases or construction; the economy benefits because more telecommuting means that better, more robust, faster infrastructure generates profit and jobs to those companies that provide the infrastructure; the country benefits because lower costs usually mean there is more money to hire more employees, who will pay taxes on their income. There’s also something less tangible that comes with living in a country where there are progressive industries. Oh yeah – I’ve heard that telecommuting workers (who are usually on salary instead of being paid by the hour) tend to put in more hours on the job. In my opinion, the more telecommuters there are, the better off everyone is.
I would not compel telecommuting. People being what they are, I’m sure a small percentage would abuse the system. On the other hand, let’s look at health care as an analog. Most people have health insurance (although one of my pet issues is that not everyone does), and yet most people don’t abuse the system. In my last year of employement with my previous company I was out sick one day – and I had “unlimited” sick leave. I never went to the doctor unless it was absolutely necessary – which was rarely. I believe that most people use their health insurance this way. It’s there, but they don’t use it very much. In the same way, I think that most people who telecommute do not abuse the freedom it offers. Those that do abuse the system can be offered a desk in the building, or they can be laid off or fired for not doing their jobs. I think that most people would choose to make an extra effort to prove telecommuting works.
I’m envious of you, ForgottenLore, for landing a telecommuting position. If I were offered such a position (like my last position, where I was “virtually” telecommuting anyway) I would jump on it in a New York minute.
Best of luck to you. 