Thank you for the great article. I currently do not telecommute everyday but I can definitely see where you are coming from on all of the items you have noted.

Thanks,
Jay
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Jay,

The part about communication and building relationships is key. A salesperson once told me that in order to maintain a relationship with a client, you must be in contact with them at least every 30 days. Once a quarter is not enough. When telecommuting, I believe this should be even more frequent, about every other week.

While all the videoconferencing technology is great, human beings will remain human beings and nothing beats being in front of someone to really *feel* how things are gong.

Great article,

Laurent Duperval
http://www.duperval.com

Great article. I'll be sending the link to my teammates as many of us are remote. I've been telecommuting since '98 and too many of your items hit home.

By the way, is that sweater new? It looks nice.

Thanks for the fun read. I'm glad I have an office job.

Be sure to check with your employer about applicable telecommuting policies. Some employers require a review of the workplace for OSHA requirements as well as mandate elderly care/childcare arrangements.

While there are minor inconveniences to telecommuting, some of which you have rightly indicated, I have found that more often than not, most IT workers are not given the choice. Far too many IT shops that I have worked for, insist on attendance at the office, even when it is counterproductive,

Let me briefly explain.

Work Requirement: Office Attendance mandatory.

Downsides:

(1) Wasted Time: This requires one to four hours in traffic jams in major cities. There is no way to get this time back. Wasting anywhere from five to twenty hours a week, is counter-productive in more than one way. Not only is it a waste of time, it is so aggravating, annoying, and nerve racking that even after arriving at work, it takes thirty minutes to an hour to overcome the stress.

(2) Constant interruptions: If you are a development manager, architect, or team lead, you may be constantly interrupted throughout the day. Far too many people come up to ask you questions about relevant and non-relevant items of interest. It can really throw you off your game plan,

(3) Ad hoc meetings: Again another interruption. Constant availability means "I am available."

(4) Wasted time on necessary breaks: Big office buildings may require you to go to another floor or another part of the building for restroom breaks, coffee, water, soft drinks. It waste time.

(5) Reference materials: I have more at home than they do at work. I miss this availability in the office.

(6) Trivial conversations: This helps build teamwork and comradere, but it can also lead to wasted time.

Personally I see the trade offs as about equal. I personally work better away from the office, except for necessary meetings to gather requirements, collaboration nd elaboration on design and review. Once these have been fleshed out, let me work at home uninterrupted and I will finish my work in a more timely and less stressed manner. Require me to come to an office and I will waste 10 hours a week in traffic, 2 hours per day for breaks (including lunch), and be interrupted about an hour or more per day.

Summary of work requirements

At Office Work

Hours spent actually working: 30 hours
Travel Time (average): 15 hours
All breaks (including lunch):10 hours
Interruptions, etc: 10 hours

Total time: 65 hour weeks at work or going to work. Less than 50% productivity time.

Remote/At Home

Hours spent actually working: 45 hours or more.
Travel time: 0
All breaks (including lunch): 3 hours.
Interruptions: (Phone): 3 hours

Total Time allocated: 51 hours.
Over 80% productivity time

Employers should look at figures such as these when making decisions about telecommuting.

Well, all of these are correct. if your work doesn't involve any kind of mandatory work, it makes perfect sense be done at home.

However, I would go for the office thing. For some reason: If you go to an office place, everyone is convienced you are working. Spouses, kids, bosses. Sitting in a house in bathrobe doesn't convience people. And, you know, it's not about only being valuable, it's people considering you are valuable in order to keep your job

Yawn...if you've got time to read these tips then you're tele-commuting efforts have been wasted.

People might start asking themselves "how does reading CIO.com actually enrich their lives (it's not all about work)?"

Our company has pretty lax telecommuting rules, and most of my team mates, including my boss work from home 1 to 2 days a week. All of your points, are very valid for me as well, but one additional pet-peeve I have is the speed of the network and occasional disconnects to the intranet.

I thought the article had made excellent points but since I had been involved in video conferencing and web conferencing at an American automotive OEM since 1991 until my early retirement this past Nov, I feel there is something to be said for using it for reading body language. . . With the easy access to high speed / bandwidth internet and latest V/C technologies now available (even high definition)it makes it quite a bit easier to be face to face. Telecommuting can work if properly evaluated first and implemented properly.
Poly A. Endrasik Jr.
www.GreenSmartLLC.com