Telecommuting Is Fast on the Rise - Essay Example

Drastic weather conditions are among the factors that are pushing companies to offer to telecommute. Employees in Washington saved the government a large sum of money by working from home during official snow days. This is according to research done by Global Workplace Analytics. According to Lister, “Telecommuting is the only way companies will know how to build workplaces and design work practices and decide what technology is needed for support” (Tugend).

Today, telecommuting is not limited to one sector of the population but men, women, young, old, parents, and nonparents all participate. The article states that individuals who work from home tend to be more productive and put in more working hours. It is however important for an employee to combine both workings at home and from the office, since working from home alone may affect promotion chances. Telecommuting has grown drastically and a lot of individuals are full-time employees working from home. On average, the article states that the number of Americans working outside the office is as high as thirty percent of the population (Tugend). Telecommuting is helping companies reduce office spaces but still, a large number of individuals would prefer to combine both workings at home and from the office.

The second article “Working Productively as a Telecommuter” outlines tips on how to become a successful telecommuter. For a lot of people, the idea of telecommuting is working from the comfort of your home in pajamas without the rush of the office. The article however states that this is not a healthy notion and is destined to failure for any individual telecommuting. Even if working from home an individual needs to take it seriously. One should be focused and work hard just as if he was his own boss (Garone).
The article gives tips on how to be successful in telecommuting. For first-time telecommuters, the shift will be difficult and one has to be prepared psychologically.

An individual who is used to working on-site will have a hard time adjusting to working from home. The individual should have the mindset that is a job and not a vacation and the best way is to have a home office. The office space should be respected and only be used for work. This leads to the next trip, which is to take the job seriously (Garone). This will be achieved by dressing appropriately since this will influence how the individual feels and interacts. Every characteristic of a normal office should be brought in and utilized in the home office. Work schedule, organization, and tidiness should be observed to ensure success.

Avoiding isolation is also important, according to the article. Even though working from home one should not keep to himself but be address social his social needs. Interacting with people and going to a health club before the start of a workday is important in ensuring productivity. The individual should also reward and motivate himself when he successfully tackles a task. This is great in boosting morale and maintaining a productive mindset. It is also important for an individual to consult with his work colleagues (Garone). It is healthy to keep in touch and also hang out with them from time to time. Finally keeping options open is important in developing career and securing a better job.

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