The truth about telecommuting
Cynthia E. Brodrick

Ever fantasized about telecommuting your job? Perhaps you believe working from home would be the life of Riley. Just type up a few e-mails before having lunch out with a buddy. Squeeze in writing a report between walking the dog and Oprah. After checking in with your boss about how productive you're being, you can check on the investments made with the money you've saved by not driving to and from the office. The only tough part is talking your supervisor into it. What a delightful daydream.

For the real scoop on the realities of working from home, a virtual round table of telecommuters gives you the scoop on the good, the bad and the ugly of telecommuting.

Meet our telecommuters:

• Jancie, an information manager for the Department of Natural Resources for Georgia Pollution Prevention Assistance Division in Atlanta who telecommutes two days a week
• Laura, a human resources manager for a large consulting firm and full-time telecommuter in suburban Philadelphia
• Michael, a full-time telecommuting senior editor working in LaGrange, Ga., for American Media Inc. in Lantana, Fla.
• Jessica, a managing editor for an educational book company in northern California, who telecommutes three days a week

And our experts:

• Jeff Zbar, home-based author of Home Office Know How, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
• Michelle McCullers, publisher of "Telecommuting Today!" e-zine and freelance Web page designer in Warner Robins, Ga.

The good: A growing trend ...

More people than ever are telecommuting. Ten years ago, there were approximately two million doing the work-at-home thing. By the year 2000, 30 million U.S. workers are expected to be telecommuting, at least part time, according to Bob Hafner, vice president of research at the GartnerGroup, Stamford, Conn., which specializes in information technology issues.

"It's only going to continue to grow as workers demand it and employers realize success from it," Zbar says. He predicts continued double-digit growth as higher-speed Internet access becomes available in homes. He continues, "As technology grows and PCs get less expensive, all sorts of things will facilitate growth of telecommuting."

... the bad: But not possible for every job

The No. 1 consideration for whether an employee can successfully telecommute is whether the job requires physical interaction with co-workers or customers. Obviously many service occupations, administrative support staff and blue-collar jobs require presence at the job site.

"Some occupations are easier to telecommute than others," McCullers says. "If you are a programmer, Web designer, do research and development, sales or recruitments, you can almost always find a company who will allow telecommuting. Almost any type of computer work can be done on a telecommuting basis."

Many jobs are a combination of solo work and interaction. Millions of telecommuters work at home a couple days a week and do the traditional commute to the office the rest of the time.

Three of our virtual round table members had to modify their jobs to be able to telecommute.

Jessica gave up her old job as a manager and switched jobs with someone who had been her subordinate. She says, "Overseeing the day-to-day activities of seven people in my department was just not doable from home, nor were meetings. As a manager you are responsible for representing your team to the rest of the company and that is very difficult to do with only a phone, fax and modem."

Laura was not able to do her previous job as a telecommuter. "My old role was very hands-on, dealing with time-sensitive issues. I had to be available 8 to 5." So when she returned from maternity leave, she began working on a project-by-project basis with a virtual team. She's on the East Coast, while her current co-workers are in Chicago.

The good: No stoplights or traffic snarls ...

"The best part is avoiding traffic -- it saves me about 2 hours and 10 minutes every day!" Jancie says. Laura also saves herself a 2-hour daily commute.

"It's sure nice to skip the commute," Jessica agrees.

... The bad: Juggling and loneliness

Telecommuters who work part of each week in the office have the added responsibility of coordinating their work between two locations.

"The worst part is dragging my laptop back and forth," Jancie says. "I have to very carefully plan what work I will take home. Some of my work must be done in the office, so I always have to make sure that I am paying attention not only to deadlines, but whether this would be a good piece of work to take home."

"I feel part of my responsibility as a telecommuter is to make things flow smoothly and seamlessly whether I'm there or here on any given day," Jessica says.

While a lot of people thrive on working solo, Zbar explains, "Not everyone is cut out for telecommuting." He explains that if you are gregarious and need the buzz of the office, telecommuting won't work.

"I miss the companionship of co-workers much more than I anticipated," Michael says. "Interaction with your 'work buddies' helps you get through the day and without that, simply sitting hunched over a typewriter working all day can be a bit boring."

The good: Productivity is key ...

Anecdotal evidence proves over and over again that telecommuting workers tend to be more productive.

"Any manager who doesn't allow his person to work from home is a fool," Zbar says. "Home-based workers are 15 to 20 percent more productive. They work longer hours."

"I think telecommuters in general are so happy that they are even more focused on making sure the work gets done," Jancie says.

"I tend to get more done in less time because I am not interrupted by numerous questions from co-workers, etc. My work at home is intense and uninterrupted and it is extremely productive," Jessica says.

"What I lack in face-to-face contact, I gain in productivity and feeling like I'm in control of my work and professional life," Laura agrees.

... The bad: Co-worker envy and self-discipline

Happier workers may be more productive workers, but telecommuters are also motivated by setting a precedent and being watched closely by jealous colleagues.

"The biggest misconception about telecommuting is that you're not working, just kind of hanging out at home," Michael says. "I've had to work twice as hard to prove that I'm just as valuable an asset to the company as when I was there."

"I feel a certain degree of needing to work even harder to prove myself," Jessica agrees, "and to prove that I really did do eight hours and have enough work to show for it."

"I feel like I have to work hard to make sure that people know I am working when I'm at home," Jancie says.

Being extra productive requires strong self-discipline, according to our telecommuters.

"Even though I can set my own schedule to a degree, I actually have to exercise more self-discipline to get the job done than when I was in the office, with folks looking over my shoulder," Michael admits.

"I feel the need to be extra organized and efficient so that when I need a particular form or bit of information, it's not here when I'm there and vice versa," Jessica says.

The good: Master of domain, time and life ...

Probably the most cited reason people enjoy telecommuting is the ability to spend more time with family and personal matters.

"I can use breaks productively to get personal things done, like switch the laundry from the washer to the dryer while a file is printing or snuggle with Emily (her daughter) while I work on the computer. I tend to feel more in control of both aspects of my life, professional and personal, when I am not scrambling at both places to get things done," Jessica says.

"I get up just as early as I used to. Only now I can spend some time doing household things and getting the kids ready rather than rush out the door," says Laura, a mother of two.

"I love the fact that I get to spend a lot of time with my daughter Erin. Right now she is only in daycare about 24 hours per week," Jancie says. "I would be so unhappy if Erin had to be in full-time daycare, which for us would have probably ended up being 45 hours per week because of the commute time."

... The bad: Work is always there and never total control

While telecommuting gives workers the chance to take care of personal stuff during the workday, it also gives work the chance to intrude on their personal lives.

"One of the biggest challenges with telecommuting is that your office and work are always there," Laura says. "It's easy to jump on the computer 'just for a few minutes' in the evening and then spend several hours working. The lines of work and home aren't as distinct when you telecommute."

In the same vein, a telecommuter's personal life can interfere with their work.

"Neighbors, friends and family members think you don't have a 'real job' because you work at home all day," McCullers says.

"My family had to be instructed that they are persona non grata in my office, and reminded that contrary to appearances, I am working rather than on vacation," Michael concurs.

While many workers telecommute in order to spend more time with family, the reality is that working at home is not always possible with small children.

"Many people who want to telecommute want to do so to save money on daycare. This is not realistic. Telecommuting is not a replacement for daycare," McCullers advises. Laura discovered this truth and takes her sons to daycare on the days that she has to work.

Zbar explains that many companies won't allow teleworkers to have kids at home. He says, "It's in the contract: no children in home office."

... and the ugly: The ratty bathrobe and bunny slippers image

The final misconception about working from home: "We're all sitting around, with our feet propped up, eating bon-bons and watching Hawaii Five-0, Zbar jokes.

Our round table strongly protests.

"We don't all just sit around in our pajamas watching TV," Jessica says.

"I always shower and get dressed first thing in the morning," Laura agrees.

-- Posted: Oct. 5, 1999