Why we need to encourage telecommuting
BY Sarah Goodyear
28 DEC 2010 9:42 AM
A lot of people I know didn't have to go to work yesterday. The Blizzard of 2010 -- Snowmageddon, Snowpocalypse, Tsnownami, or whatever you want to call it -- was a storm that lived up to its hype for once. It shut down much of the New York City subway system and rendered the city's streets impassable to motor vehicles, including buses. If you couldn't walk to work, you couldn't show up. And even walking was tough. (Some intrepid souls did bike.)
I, however, had no problem getting to my desk. I just walked downstairs and turned on my computer. No snow day for me. Sigh.
I'm one of between 20 and 30 million Americans who works from home at least one day a week, according to the Telework Research Network. Earlier this month, President Obama signed the Telework Enhancement Act, which will encourage telecommuting for federal employees through a number of measures.
Nicole Belson Goluboff, a lawyer who writes frequently on this topic, has some ideas for how even more could be done to promote working from home, including tax breaks for workers and employees.
One of Goluboff's most intriguing proposals would require states to promote telework in order to qualify for transportation infrastructure funding. She writes at New Geography:
By reducing the demand for roads and mass transit, telecommuting minimizes the cost of repair, maintenance and expansion of such infrastructure. Before the federal government subsidizes state and local transportation investments, the funding recipients should be compelled to mitigate costs by promoting telework.
In these lean economic times, telework makes a lot of financial sense. The Telework Research Network estimates that if 40 percent of the American work force worked from home half the time, it could save the country's businesses $700 billion annually -- and result in a 50 million ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. It could mean 1,500 fewer traffic deaths each year.
Telework also increases the resiliency of a city -- which will be crucial in a future of diminishing resources and climate change.
All of which seems terribly relevant in New York this week, where a lot of questions are being raised about just why this storm has resulted in such paralysis (including several subway trains stranded for hours and lines of city buses stuck in the street). After all, this is a city that gets its fair share of snow. We had a bigger storm back in 2006. But the streets this time are the worst I've ever seen them.
Budget cuts may be to blame, at least in part. As Alison Kilkenny of Citizen Radio points out on her blog, Unreported, New York's sanitation department -- which is responsible for clearing the city's streets in a storm -- is down by some 400 workers from last year's staffing levels:
Pre-cuts, NYC was able to handle a larger storm in a relatively smooth fashion. Post-cuts, it's snowpocalypse. I walked a single city block this morning and saw an abandoned bus in the middle of a major Brooklyn intersection, and the intersection was nearly impassable for pedestrians. And it's been more than 24 hours since the storm hit. That's very unusual for New York City. The sanitation workers (when there are enough of them) are very good about digging us out in a quick fashion. Not this time. That should serve as a warning flare.
You can't plow a city's streets by telecommuting. But plenty of people can get their jobs done from home -- even if they are wearing pajamas while they work.
(Thanks to Aaron Renn at The Urbanophile.)
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Video Conferencing and Meeting Software Leading-the-Way to Employee happiness
Teleworking or telecommuting as it is also often called is making waves today thanks to the internet. The ideal environment to work is not limited anymore to the four walls of the office. Many companies allow their people to work at home or anywhere they please as long as the outputs are clear and the delivery are timely. Creative jobs are embracing this practice knowing that artists and content providers love the freedom to work where they want. This indirectly contributes to their overall efficiency. The office today is the very place that less work is actually done. In many ways this is still a controversial idea but many organizations today are leaning more to listen to new way doing things. Technology like video conferencing made it possible for employees to keep in touch and receive timely instructions and guidance wherever they are in the world. Combined with existing technology like email and social networking sites, the barriers of distance and communication are completely eradicated.
Meeting software is also now heavily used online. There can be real time collaboration between two people or even a whole creative team with access to tools that makes sharing documents, images, audio files and even sharing documents very easy. People can now record the whole session and review the meeting for clarifications. What organizations get is optimized individuals and teams.
Teleworking is not just about distance but also about flexible hours. Creative streaks respect no time but this is the very moment where great idea comes from. Video conferencing services are accessible 24/7 enabling people to get in touch with one another. People can talk to their supervisor and the whole team when great ideas pop pup.
Meeting software compliments the best of teleworking simply because it minimizes contact for the things not needed at work like politics, conflicts and little chats here and there. But at the same time this technology provides access to key information the employee might need that is work related. Studies have shown that office communication in not sorely missed by people who are alienated from the physical location.
Employee happiness has always been an active pursuit by organizations all over the world but for the first time telecommuting allows the organization to make their employee happy at the same time lower operational costs. These new technologies are very effective but it is also very cheap when the equation of cost per individual in the office is taken into account into the equation.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Your Business Today Through Telecommuting
With the birth of the Internet, numerous were created in a speed of light. Basic needs have increasing costs as time went by that people desire to just work from home. The Internet has made home based jobs available to thousands of people. We will now try to look upon the idea of telecommuting and see its advantages and disadvantages.
Telecommuting is the occupation for a home based worker who found his job through web sites. Job advertisements offer many jobs. Jobs like article writing, rewriting, proofreading and the reviewing of goods and services are widely available on their postings. Doing the work needed for the job and earning income are both possible at home through telecommuting.
Yet, telecommuters should watch out. There are job postings that would take money from you in exchange of a job. A job shouldn’t be sold for the job seeker. Employers will pay for an employee’s efforts, not that the job seeker has to pay for his desired job.
You won’t be secured too that you will be paid immediately after an assignment. The best approach with this scenario is submit half of the work before getting your fist pay. For a job excellently done, employers would love to pay you on time. Never do complicated assignments for payments that are only promised to you.
Telecommuting has been the full time job for many people. Telecommuting can ideally become your primary job but you must realize everything that it requires of you so you’ll realize if you can truly pull it through. Online money making jobs may appear comforting but it still requires a lot of work.
It is valuable to select the right target when telecommuting For example, if you’re skillful in proofreading manuscripts, then create your resume and apply for proofreading jobs as much as you can. Another job opportunity is the placement of advertisements which is also a great way to make money with the many free ad websites available on the Web. In Web designing you are paid for every assignment you’ve finished and later submitted.
If you think you are proficient enough and really want to make money online then start searching the Internet. There is a most suitable job for you among the hundreds of jobs available on the Web.
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Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Telecommuting As A New Business Venture For You
18.11.2010 | Author: Will Schlepinger |
The Internet has widely opened the doors for jobs so quickly. With increasing costs on basic commodities, more people are looking forward to work from home. The Internet has opened opportunities to work from home to thousands of people. Telecommuting is an amazing business opportunity but taking a peek into its positive and negative attributes are important.
Telecommuting is the career for inspiring home based employees who may find their job through posting on web sites. There are plenty of openings for them. The advertisement of jobs would be in search of writers, proofreaders, and reviewers. Telecommuting makes it possible for anyone to work and earn at home.
But telecommuters should also keep an eye. There are instances when web sites require payment to get access to their pages. It is not ideal to pay for a job. If they are in need of an employee you don’t have to pay, they will pay you.
You won’t be secured too that you will be paid immediately after an assignment. The best approach with this scenario is submit half of the work before getting your fist pay. For a job excellently done, employers would love to pay you on time. Never do complicated assignments for payments that are only promised to you.
Many people have earned a living by telecommuting. You can earn a lot from telecommuting but like any other jobs you have to examine it further to ascertain if you’re the man for the job. Home based jobs may look stress-free but remember that it also demands proficiency.
It is valuable to select the right target when telecommuting For example, if you’re skillful in proofreading manuscripts, then create your resume and apply for proofreading jobs as much as you can. Another job opportunity is the placement of advertisements which is also a great way to make money with the many free ad websites available on the Web. In Web designing you are paid for every assignment you’ve finished and later submitted.
If you are competent that you can do any of this then you should start looking for a job on the Internet. You just have to find the most fitting job for you among a hundreds of real jobs online.
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Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Perks and Pitfalls of Telecommuting
November 15, 2010 at 10:43 am by Luanne Bradley
The soup got torched, again. Zesty flavored whence removed from the can, the now smoky-flavored Trader Joe O’s went to school, anyway, in a pink thermos in the tin Blow Pop novelty lunch box. This, after a cursory taste test confirmed the impossible: She wouldn’t know the difference. Never mind that the cauldron it bubbled fiendishly in was tortured beyond repair. Never mind that she dissects her green beans to remove the bad parts before eating. I was reasoning with the clarity of Lenny from Mice and Men? Show me the rabbits, George. Nah, better not. I’ll probably burn them critters, too.
“Did you burn it while you were working on the computer in the basement?” she inquired, in that accusatory, sassy tween tone reminiscent of the damaged young stars of twit-coms. ”Yes, I did it while working in the basement,” I confessed. “I’m so sorry. It won’t happen again.”
Appallingly, I also was exposed at school upon pick up time. The school secretary reported there was something wrong with the way the kid’s soup smelled. “It smelled off,” shared Juanita, scrunching her nose like my Pug dog, Mr. Jones, when ordering him to stop licking the Bounce sheets. Yeah, lady, what smelled off was my motherhood. Time to set some boundaries, right? Or at least install a kitchen timer in the basement.
Truth is, working from home via the computer is certainly a good way to go, but understand the perks and pitfalls. You save huge amounts of money and fuel by going about your business online. Commuting to work by car and writing it off is still commuting. Yes, task chair traveling is the forward way to go, even if the mouse in your house is a huge distraction – keeping you from becoming the Alice Waters you aspire to be.
Clearly, more of us are clicking with that mouse to earn a livelihood. The U.S. Census Bureau reports sizable increases in the number of Americans working out of their homes. It shot up from 9.5 million in 1999 to 11.3 million of us in 2005. Half of all home workers have college degrees and earn at least $75,000 a year, and also work longer hours than the average worker to make that dough, about 11 hours per day.
Studies also show growth in the number of employees telecommuting on multiple days of the week, from 2.3 million in 2005 to 2006 up to 2.8 million workers from 2007 to 2008. Chances are it will keep rising, and want-ads will reflect that rise rather than the sprinkling of telemarketing options available now.
In the year 2010, telecommuting is hugely viable and still not always acceptable to backwards employers, who argue nothing replaces relationships formed at the cooler. Not even forgoing costly commercial rental space.
But those who understand the benefits admit technology has outmoded the need to traverse the country in jet planes and rack up business class frequent flier miles to do business. It has outmoded the need to show up to a cubicle every day with your tail wagging to get a bone. That way of doing biz is up in the air and destined to being grounded for good if we keep it up. I know you know what I mean by keeping it up.
Meanwhile, back to the soup. There are unavoidable pitfalls and some avoidable ones to multitasking in too comfortable of an environment, namely, one that you control 100 percent.
You will find the cut-off time to be elusive when your office is where you also shower, cook, social network, pay bills, wash clothes and generally manage your own life and or the lives of children and other living things. Yes, plants count.
You often cough up your own medical insurance unless the employer has it covered, struggle to squeeze in exercise which actually is easier to do once you are already out and about, and may decide to screw the housework which you would ordinarily fit in before work in the morning or when you get home. Ah ha. See, you don’t leave and you don’t come home. Hello piles of dirty clothes and towels, sink of dishes, unmade beds. Wouldn’t you rather work than tackle those unpleasant chores? Isn’t it because you hate housework that you dive into work in the first place?
Over-scheduling. Don’t do it. It will lead to overwhelm which will lead to wine with lunch on the couch. You can still stick to a schedule like any office rat, just give yourself a window of completing must-do tasks and prioritize as you go. Then visualize the stop button on the treadmill and push it when the time comes to clock out. Warning. If you devote time to social networking during much of your down time, there will be no down time. Limit that as well.
And do place that timer in the home office. My sister gave me one years ago and when I reorganize the kitchen drawers I bet I’ll find it. No school secretary deserves to smell rotten soup. Sorry Juanita. If I can hyperlink, download images, Facebook and Twitter, I should be able to time a pot of pasta soup on the stove. I won’t give up, won’t resort to peanut butter and jelly and return to the cold and rigid environs of a corporate work setting.
Keep telling yourself that. Better yet, send a Gmail reminder to your Yahoo account, print it and tack it on the bulletin board in front of your computer. Add the affirmation, Telecommuters rule. Then get out of your pajamas, have some lunch, do a load of laundry, sail hello to the mailman, and get back to work.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Teleworkers Save Commuters Time On The Roads
A report from the UK shows that folks who work from home have helped to cut average commute times there to a 10 year low of about 24 minutes each way.
The analysis – published to coincide withWork Wise UK‘s Commute Smart week this week (8-12 November) – finds that the average time spent commuting to and from work increased each year from 1998 to 2006, reaching a record 52 minutes roundtrip.
But since 2006, average commute times have decreased every year by 5 minutes each year.
Growth in home working has been one of the reasons —between 2006 and 2008, the number of people working from home increased by 291,000 – accounting for more than half of UK employment growth during this period.
Naturally other factors helped reduce commute times include better traffic management, higher fuel prices, fewer cars, shorter trips, and greater use of flexible work times.
The analysis – published to coincide withWork Wise UK‘s Commute Smart week this week (8-12 November) – finds that the average time spent commuting to and from work increased each year from 1998 to 2006, reaching a record 52 minutes roundtrip.
But since 2006, average commute times have decreased every year by 5 minutes each year.
Growth in home working has been one of the reasons —between 2006 and 2008, the number of people working from home increased by 291,000 – accounting for more than half of UK employment growth during this period.
Naturally other factors helped reduce commute times include better traffic management, higher fuel prices, fewer cars, shorter trips, and greater use of flexible work times.
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Power of Telework
Posted October 25th, 2010 by BfA Staff
With the launch of our Online Supporter Week, we here at Broadband for America realize that the biggest topic on just about everyone’s minds these days is the economy. In a challenging job market, the world of broadband has been an exception to the rule, creating well-paying and rewarding jobs.
Part of adjusting to the new broadband economy is realizing the growing potential of telework. Just a few years ago, employees who worked from home or remote locations were a small fraction of the workforce. Today, nearly 40 percent of all employees have the potential to work outside the office at least part-time. And the benefits of telecommuting extend from the very top of the corporate ladder down to the prospective employee looking to improve their career prospects.
As Shannon Perkins, owner of The Work from Home Lounge, wrote on the BfA blog:
Telesaur founder Chip Kohrman struck a similar note in his blog post for BfA discussing how the power of telecommuting is providing a bridge for employers looking to expand their workforce:
Articles have been written detailing the amount of money a telecommuter can save by not having to pay transportation costs – gasoline for a car, or the fare for a bus or train – not having to pay for parking, lunch or daycare. The savings to an employer range from reducing the amount of office space to the amount of coffee they need to provide. Printers, copiers, light, heat, and air conditioning costs would all shrink if more employees worked from home.
[W]e should examine some of the broader savings which might be achieved by more people working from home. If everyone who could work from home today did work from home, we would save 45 million gallons of gas – at $3 per gallon that would be $135 million saved in fuel costs in one day. It would also eliminate 423,000 tons of greenhouse gases which is the equivalent of taking 77,000 cars off the road for a full year.
With the launch of our Online Supporter Week, we here at Broadband for America realize that the biggest topic on just about everyone’s minds these days is the economy. In a challenging job market, the world of broadband has been an exception to the rule, creating well-paying and rewarding jobs.
Part of adjusting to the new broadband economy is realizing the growing potential of telework. Just a few years ago, employees who worked from home or remote locations were a small fraction of the workforce. Today, nearly 40 percent of all employees have the potential to work outside the office at least part-time. And the benefits of telecommuting extend from the very top of the corporate ladder down to the prospective employee looking to improve their career prospects.
As Shannon Perkins, owner of The Work from Home Lounge, wrote on the BfA blog:
[T]elecommuting is a good choice – maybe the only choice – for a growing number of people. Telecommuting is a rising trend and many well-known businesses are telecommuter friendly, such as ATT, 1-800-Flowers, U-Haul, and HSN … A telecommute position is just as real as a “traditional job”, you must have the quality, experience, and skills to get a telecommute position.
Telesaur founder Chip Kohrman struck a similar note in his blog post for BfA discussing how the power of telecommuting is providing a bridge for employers looking to expand their workforce:
Employers, wary and fearful of adding full-time staff and repeating the pain of layoffs, have found they can utilize the skill and knowledge of some of those folks who may have been performing tasks from order entry and tracking to copy writing and graphic design, all at a lower cost to the company but at nearly the same gross income for the employee-turned-contractor.And it’s not just the telecommuting jobs themselves that are being created through increased broadband adoption, as the Telework Research Network’s Kate Lister wrote, telework is great for the environment and the extended savings it provides to both employers and employees can provide a significant economic incentive:
Articles have been written detailing the amount of money a telecommuter can save by not having to pay transportation costs – gasoline for a car, or the fare for a bus or train – not having to pay for parking, lunch or daycare. The savings to an employer range from reducing the amount of office space to the amount of coffee they need to provide. Printers, copiers, light, heat, and air conditioning costs would all shrink if more employees worked from home.
[W]e should examine some of the broader savings which might be achieved by more people working from home. If everyone who could work from home today did work from home, we would save 45 million gallons of gas – at $3 per gallon that would be $135 million saved in fuel costs in one day. It would also eliminate 423,000 tons of greenhouse gases which is the equivalent of taking 77,000 cars off the road for a full year.
Monday, October 4, 2010
Senate passes compromise telework bill
Eligible federal employees could telework at least 20 percent of the hours they work each 2-week period
◦By FederalDaily Staff
◦Oct 01, 2010
Telework proponents this week lauded Senate passage of a compromise federal teleworking bill. The Senate passed the bill Sept. 30 with an amendment on unanimous consent.
Under the Telework Improvements Act of 2010 (H.R. 1722), agencies will have 180 days to determine the eligibility of all employees to telework and to establish policies for eligible employees. After an employee is deemed eligible, he or she must enter into a written telework arrangement with the agency. Eligible feds could telework at least 20 percent of the hours they work each two-week period.
H.R. 1722 also requires agencies to incorporate telework into their continuity-of-operations plans, allowing them to head off the effects of events such as the blizzards that struck the Washington, D.C., area this year. The bill also orders the Office of Personnel Management to expand telework training opportunities for employees and managers. The House now has to act on the compromise.
“Employing telework on a governmentwide scale constitutes a significant culture shift in the federal workforce,” said Federal Managers Association National President Patricia Niehaus, whose organization supports the bill.
Niehaus said the change will require “an increased investment in managerial training to maintain employee engagement, monitor performance and promote cooperation when face-to-face.”
“This is a very welcome development,” said National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley, who applauded the bill’s training provision. “The more managers and employees understand telework, the more the advantages become clear."
◦By FederalDaily Staff
◦Oct 01, 2010
Telework proponents this week lauded Senate passage of a compromise federal teleworking bill. The Senate passed the bill Sept. 30 with an amendment on unanimous consent.
Under the Telework Improvements Act of 2010 (H.R. 1722), agencies will have 180 days to determine the eligibility of all employees to telework and to establish policies for eligible employees. After an employee is deemed eligible, he or she must enter into a written telework arrangement with the agency. Eligible feds could telework at least 20 percent of the hours they work each two-week period.
H.R. 1722 also requires agencies to incorporate telework into their continuity-of-operations plans, allowing them to head off the effects of events such as the blizzards that struck the Washington, D.C., area this year. The bill also orders the Office of Personnel Management to expand telework training opportunities for employees and managers. The House now has to act on the compromise.
“Employing telework on a governmentwide scale constitutes a significant culture shift in the federal workforce,” said Federal Managers Association National President Patricia Niehaus, whose organization supports the bill.
Niehaus said the change will require “an increased investment in managerial training to maintain employee engagement, monitor performance and promote cooperation when face-to-face.”
“This is a very welcome development,” said National Treasury Employees Union President Colleen Kelley, who applauded the bill’s training provision. “The more managers and employees understand telework, the more the advantages become clear."
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Why Telework and Broadband Should Be In Your Playbook
Posted September 14th, 2010 by Chip Kohrman
Buckeyes are looking for work, but they aren’t finding it. July’s numbers show Ohio’s unemployment rate tailing behind national numbers. The economy still struggles and people are still out of work. That’s a dark outlook, but these tough conditions are teaching lessons.
One thing thousands of Ohioans are learning is that they can work from home by using a high-speed Internet connection at home to do the same type of work they might do from a desk in an office downtown.
Employers, wary and fearful of adding full-time staff and repeating the pain of layoffs, have found they can utilize the skill and knowledge of some of those folks who may have been performing tasks from order entry and tracking to copy writing and graphic design, all at a lower cost to the company but at nearly the same gross income for the employee-turned-contractor.
Teleworking has become a lifeline for people from Marietta to Toledo who can market their skills to multiple employers, thereby increasing their income and cutting down on commuting, parking, childcare and even meal expenses at the same time.
On the employers’ side, they can save on lighting, air conditioning and heating, printers, coffee, and all the other costs that go into keeping an office humming.
Teleworking provides another advantage: no relocation. Someone hired as a full-time employee could avoid packing up the family and moving across the state or country to do that job. With today’s inexpensive software and hardware, employees around the world can attend a virtual meeting without ever leaving their home office. That saves wear and tear on the attendees and thousands of dollars for the employer.
Hiring teleworkers and part-timers might not work for everyone. But, if it sounds like a real opportunity to you – either as an employer or as a contractor – huddle up, Buckeyes! Telework could be a winning play.
Chip Kohrman is the founder of Telesaur. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
Buckeyes are looking for work, but they aren’t finding it. July’s numbers show Ohio’s unemployment rate tailing behind national numbers. The economy still struggles and people are still out of work. That’s a dark outlook, but these tough conditions are teaching lessons.
One thing thousands of Ohioans are learning is that they can work from home by using a high-speed Internet connection at home to do the same type of work they might do from a desk in an office downtown.
Employers, wary and fearful of adding full-time staff and repeating the pain of layoffs, have found they can utilize the skill and knowledge of some of those folks who may have been performing tasks from order entry and tracking to copy writing and graphic design, all at a lower cost to the company but at nearly the same gross income for the employee-turned-contractor.
Teleworking has become a lifeline for people from Marietta to Toledo who can market their skills to multiple employers, thereby increasing their income and cutting down on commuting, parking, childcare and even meal expenses at the same time.
On the employers’ side, they can save on lighting, air conditioning and heating, printers, coffee, and all the other costs that go into keeping an office humming.
Teleworking provides another advantage: no relocation. Someone hired as a full-time employee could avoid packing up the family and moving across the state or country to do that job. With today’s inexpensive software and hardware, employees around the world can attend a virtual meeting without ever leaving their home office. That saves wear and tear on the attendees and thousands of dollars for the employer.
Hiring teleworkers and part-timers might not work for everyone. But, if it sounds like a real opportunity to you – either as an employer or as a contractor – huddle up, Buckeyes! Telework could be a winning play.
Chip Kohrman is the founder of Telesaur. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
Monday, September 13, 2010
How Green Is Telecommuting?
I need help convincing my boss ...
By Brian Palmer
Posted Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, at 10:08 AM ET
Does telecommuting save energy? Not always.I'd love to stay home in my pajamas rather than fight through traffic so I can sit in a cubicle all day. I need help convincing my boss that working from home is a good idea. How much greener is telecommuting than dragging my sorry bones to work?
The Lantern has been enjoying the pleasures of telecommuting for years, and its advantages are many—that is, unless you like exhaust, tiny workspaces, dress codes, and wasting your time. Working from home is a win-win situation for workers and employers. Cisco recently surveyed 1,992 employees who telecommuted an average of two days per week. Sixty-nine percent of them cited productivity increases, and 80 percent said the quality of their work improved from home. The company also noted that telecommuting increases retention rates.
Unfortunately, the environmental benefits aren't quite as clear. How much carbon dioxide you save, if any, depends on how far you live from work and how you get there, among other things.
Let's consider Mr. Wheeler, the average American car commuter. According to the American Community Survey, 86 percent of the nation's workers drive to work, with three-quarters of those going solo. The average commuting distance is 32 miles roundtrip, according a 2005 poll by ABC News, Time magazine, and the Washington Post. If Mr. Wheeler's car is in compliance with the EPA's upcoming 2012 carbon dioxide emissions guidelines, his drive will produce 20.9 pounds of CO2 per day. Mr. Wheeler works 235 days per year, since he takes three weeks of vacation and stays home on all 10 federal holidays, so the annual output of his commute is 4,890 pounds of CO2—that's more than an electric furnace generates heating the average American home for a year. (A car's emissions aren't limited to CO2, of course. Mr. Wheeler will also be responsible for nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and other gaseous and particulate nasties.)
Sounds like a huge win for telecommuting, right? The bleary-eyed walk between bedroom and home office requires no fossil fuels at all.
Not so fast.
As much as you may hate your workplace, with its detestable politics, stale break-room coffee, and interminable small-talk obligations, it's a more energy-efficient work environment than the average American home. For one thing, that cramped cubicle farm means that less air has to be heated or cooled to keep the worker bees buzzing. Stay home, and you have to climate-control at least your own home office, if not the entire house. Office workers also share certain equipment, like printers and fax machines. At home, you're probably running your own peripherals.
These inefficiencies can significantly reduce the carbon savings of working in your pajamas, according to a 2005 study by Erasmia Kitou and Arpad Horvath at University of California-Berkeley. On cold days, an office produces 1.3 pounds of CO2 keeping each worker warm, compared with 11.9 pounds for the average telecommuter. That means Mr. Wheeler's furnace will give back 10.6 of the 20.9 pounds of carbon he saves by leaving his car in the garage. (On hot days, the office actually emits slightly more CO2 to cool each worker. Many people have single-room air conditioners to cool only their office, are reluctant to turn their A.C. on, or simply don't have an air conditioner. Moreover, in the Lantern's experience, most office buildings could keep raw salmon steaks fresh during the summer.) Running your own office equipment also makes a big difference. At the office, your computer and shared peripherals produce 0.9 pounds of CO2 per day, according to the Berkeley study, compared with 4.9 pounds for the same gadgets at home. So Mr. Wheeler loses another 19 percent of his CO2 savings to his printer and fax machine.
There's more. People who work at home do a whole bunch of energy-intensive things they probably wouldn't do if stuck at the office, a phenomenon that researchers call "rebound effects." They take trips to the grocery store, run the dishwasher, or even sneak in a little TV-watching. The carbon emissions associated with these extracurriculars can be hard to quantify, but Kitou and Harvath found that rebound effects generate around 6.6 pounds of carbon dioxide per day, another 30 percent of Mr. Wheeler's total.
Altogether, on the average day in which heating is required, Mr. Wheeler produces almost exactly the same amount of carbon dioxide, whether he goes to work or stays home.
That doesn't make telecommuting a loser, of course. Depending on where Mr. Wheeler lives, there may be very few days in which he actually needs to turn on the heat. On warm days, staying home saves an average of 13.5 pounds of carbon dioxide. And there are lots of little changes he could make to tip the telecommuting lifestyle in the Earth's favor, even in the dead of winter. For example, he could improve his home's insulation (or just wear a sweater in the winter), ditch his personal fax and printer, and behave more like he's in the office and less like he's lounging around the house.
The scenario is a little different for the 5 percent of Americans who commute to work by train or bus. If they commuted the same distance as Mr. Wheeler, their rides would each generate about 7.1 pounds of CO2 per day, or 1,658 pounds annually. In that case, the inefficiencies of working at home clearly outweigh the transportation savings on cold days. On warm days, it's better to work at home, and on those that don't require climate control, it doesn't really matter whether you go into the office.
If you really want to help the Earth, and you're not just exploiting the Lantern for an excuse to watch Judge Judy when you should be working, all of this points to one simple answer: Abandon your car first, then worry about whether you'd rather take the bus or stay home.
Is there an environmental quandary that's been keeping you up at night? Send it to ask.the.lantern@gmail.com, and check this space every Tuesday.
By Brian Palmer
Posted Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2010, at 10:08 AM ET
Does telecommuting save energy? Not always.I'd love to stay home in my pajamas rather than fight through traffic so I can sit in a cubicle all day. I need help convincing my boss that working from home is a good idea. How much greener is telecommuting than dragging my sorry bones to work?
The Lantern has been enjoying the pleasures of telecommuting for years, and its advantages are many—that is, unless you like exhaust, tiny workspaces, dress codes, and wasting your time. Working from home is a win-win situation for workers and employers. Cisco recently surveyed 1,992 employees who telecommuted an average of two days per week. Sixty-nine percent of them cited productivity increases, and 80 percent said the quality of their work improved from home. The company also noted that telecommuting increases retention rates.
Unfortunately, the environmental benefits aren't quite as clear. How much carbon dioxide you save, if any, depends on how far you live from work and how you get there, among other things.
Let's consider Mr. Wheeler, the average American car commuter. According to the American Community Survey, 86 percent of the nation's workers drive to work, with three-quarters of those going solo. The average commuting distance is 32 miles roundtrip, according a 2005 poll by ABC News, Time magazine, and the Washington Post. If Mr. Wheeler's car is in compliance with the EPA's upcoming 2012 carbon dioxide emissions guidelines, his drive will produce 20.9 pounds of CO2 per day. Mr. Wheeler works 235 days per year, since he takes three weeks of vacation and stays home on all 10 federal holidays, so the annual output of his commute is 4,890 pounds of CO2—that's more than an electric furnace generates heating the average American home for a year. (A car's emissions aren't limited to CO2, of course. Mr. Wheeler will also be responsible for nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and other gaseous and particulate nasties.)
Sounds like a huge win for telecommuting, right? The bleary-eyed walk between bedroom and home office requires no fossil fuels at all.
Not so fast.
As much as you may hate your workplace, with its detestable politics, stale break-room coffee, and interminable small-talk obligations, it's a more energy-efficient work environment than the average American home. For one thing, that cramped cubicle farm means that less air has to be heated or cooled to keep the worker bees buzzing. Stay home, and you have to climate-control at least your own home office, if not the entire house. Office workers also share certain equipment, like printers and fax machines. At home, you're probably running your own peripherals.
These inefficiencies can significantly reduce the carbon savings of working in your pajamas, according to a 2005 study by Erasmia Kitou and Arpad Horvath at University of California-Berkeley. On cold days, an office produces 1.3 pounds of CO2 keeping each worker warm, compared with 11.9 pounds for the average telecommuter. That means Mr. Wheeler's furnace will give back 10.6 of the 20.9 pounds of carbon he saves by leaving his car in the garage. (On hot days, the office actually emits slightly more CO2 to cool each worker. Many people have single-room air conditioners to cool only their office, are reluctant to turn their A.C. on, or simply don't have an air conditioner. Moreover, in the Lantern's experience, most office buildings could keep raw salmon steaks fresh during the summer.) Running your own office equipment also makes a big difference. At the office, your computer and shared peripherals produce 0.9 pounds of CO2 per day, according to the Berkeley study, compared with 4.9 pounds for the same gadgets at home. So Mr. Wheeler loses another 19 percent of his CO2 savings to his printer and fax machine.
There's more. People who work at home do a whole bunch of energy-intensive things they probably wouldn't do if stuck at the office, a phenomenon that researchers call "rebound effects." They take trips to the grocery store, run the dishwasher, or even sneak in a little TV-watching. The carbon emissions associated with these extracurriculars can be hard to quantify, but Kitou and Harvath found that rebound effects generate around 6.6 pounds of carbon dioxide per day, another 30 percent of Mr. Wheeler's total.
Altogether, on the average day in which heating is required, Mr. Wheeler produces almost exactly the same amount of carbon dioxide, whether he goes to work or stays home.
That doesn't make telecommuting a loser, of course. Depending on where Mr. Wheeler lives, there may be very few days in which he actually needs to turn on the heat. On warm days, staying home saves an average of 13.5 pounds of carbon dioxide. And there are lots of little changes he could make to tip the telecommuting lifestyle in the Earth's favor, even in the dead of winter. For example, he could improve his home's insulation (or just wear a sweater in the winter), ditch his personal fax and printer, and behave more like he's in the office and less like he's lounging around the house.
The scenario is a little different for the 5 percent of Americans who commute to work by train or bus. If they commuted the same distance as Mr. Wheeler, their rides would each generate about 7.1 pounds of CO2 per day, or 1,658 pounds annually. In that case, the inefficiencies of working at home clearly outweigh the transportation savings on cold days. On warm days, it's better to work at home, and on those that don't require climate control, it doesn't really matter whether you go into the office.
If you really want to help the Earth, and you're not just exploiting the Lantern for an excuse to watch Judge Judy when you should be working, all of this points to one simple answer: Abandon your car first, then worry about whether you'd rather take the bus or stay home.
Is there an environmental quandary that's been keeping you up at night? Send it to ask.the.lantern@gmail.com, and check this space every Tuesday.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
A Virtually Perfect Labor Day
I work from home. So do all the people who work with MomsRising.org and MoveOn.org, the two organizations I co-founded. It works great for us and has for years, and so, when I read that the number of U.S. telecommuters dipped to 8.7 million in 2009 from 9.2 million in 2006 (according to the IDC, a Framingham, Massachusetts research concern), I did a double take.
What is going on? Word is that this drop is not due to job loss or employers discouraging virtual work. Rather, employees are too anxious to ask for any kind of special work arrangement in uncertain economic times. Social scientists explain that when we are fearful, we are less creative and tend to hunker down with what is familiar and feels safe. But I know, as an employer, what substantial research finds: that virtual work is a great way for small organizations to do more with less and for any workplace to boost the bottom line. I worry, this Labor Day, that employers and employees frozen in a defensive crouch are going to miss an opportunity for all of us to be more successful and improve our working lives.
Though this might surprise people who opine about the influence of MoveOn.org (andMomsRising.org), these organizations are entirely virtual. They have no physical headquarters. Offices cost money, and we choose to spend the funds we have on advocacy and education, instead of walls and floors. We also find that trusting our employees to work wherever it works for them means we get great people who are happy and remarkably productive. When my daughter gets sick, I don't have to choose between getting my work done and being there for her, and if I want to go for a hike on Tuesday afternoon, I can. I work when the time is best for me and for the work I'm doing.
I know from experience that intelligently structured virtual work is incredibly good for business and cost effective.
We are not the only organizations that have discovered this. Most virtual workers work for traditional organizations with which we are all familiar. A recent study from Brigham Young University reports that telecommuting, coupled with flexibility, dramatically reduces work/life conflict and has saved millions of dollars for IBM. AT&T saved over 6 million dollars in real estate costs in New Jersey and realized millions of dollars in productivity gains when they embraced virtual work. Jet Blue's call center is not in India; it is in homes in Utah, which lets the company realize cost savings while keeping jobs in the United States. Virtual and flexible work are management opportunities.
While some organizations are embracing virtual work, even more people would like to try it. One survey on worker productivity found that nearly 60% of employees believe that telecommuting at least part time is the ideal work situation. 60% of federal agencies include virtual work in their emergency and continuity of operations plans in 2007.
Yet only 7% of eligible federal employees regularly telecommute. The Employment Policy foundation suggested that 65% of jobs could be done remotely, yet less than 30% of managers and professionals work virtually even one day a week and far fewer in more blue-collar jobs. Clearly, we have a long way to go.
The data about the benefits of virtual work are compelling. Is it really just unthinking fear that is stopping us? Change does create risk and new challenges. Individuals, managers, and even chief executives are feeling risk averse. It is not surprising that employees fear asking for flexibility or the ability to work virtually when they are fearful that their jobs might be cut. Likewise, managers who have the benefit of a hungry labor pool may not experience a strong push to make their employees' lives better at the risk of having that change create unforeseen challenges.
But businesses must recognize that there is a flipside to the risks of change - which is that there are risks in not changing, too. I have a hard time imagining a more efficient, environmentally sound, family-friendly work practice for a surprisingly broad swath of jobs in this country than virtual work. This is not the kind of opportunity business can afford to overlook.
It is time for those of us that have experienced the benefits of these non-traditional work practices to reassure others that embracing these new practices is not only good for the bottom line, butnecessary for success in the coming decade. Working virtually is what has enabled MoveOn.org and MomsRising.org to do so much with the resources we have. So I'm speaking out, and I hope others will too.
This Labor Day, it is time to get serious about embracing virtual work.
This blog is part of the Peaceful Revolution series that explores innovative ideas to strengthen America's families through public policies, business practices, and cultural change. Done in collaboration with MomsRising.org, read a new post here each week.
What is going on? Word is that this drop is not due to job loss or employers discouraging virtual work. Rather, employees are too anxious to ask for any kind of special work arrangement in uncertain economic times. Social scientists explain that when we are fearful, we are less creative and tend to hunker down with what is familiar and feels safe. But I know, as an employer, what substantial research finds: that virtual work is a great way for small organizations to do more with less and for any workplace to boost the bottom line. I worry, this Labor Day, that employers and employees frozen in a defensive crouch are going to miss an opportunity for all of us to be more successful and improve our working lives.
Though this might surprise people who opine about the influence of MoveOn.org (andMomsRising.org), these organizations are entirely virtual. They have no physical headquarters. Offices cost money, and we choose to spend the funds we have on advocacy and education, instead of walls and floors. We also find that trusting our employees to work wherever it works for them means we get great people who are happy and remarkably productive. When my daughter gets sick, I don't have to choose between getting my work done and being there for her, and if I want to go for a hike on Tuesday afternoon, I can. I work when the time is best for me and for the work I'm doing.
I know from experience that intelligently structured virtual work is incredibly good for business and cost effective.
We are not the only organizations that have discovered this. Most virtual workers work for traditional organizations with which we are all familiar. A recent study from Brigham Young University reports that telecommuting, coupled with flexibility, dramatically reduces work/life conflict and has saved millions of dollars for IBM. AT&T saved over 6 million dollars in real estate costs in New Jersey and realized millions of dollars in productivity gains when they embraced virtual work. Jet Blue's call center is not in India; it is in homes in Utah, which lets the company realize cost savings while keeping jobs in the United States. Virtual and flexible work are management opportunities.
While some organizations are embracing virtual work, even more people would like to try it. One survey on worker productivity found that nearly 60% of employees believe that telecommuting at least part time is the ideal work situation. 60% of federal agencies include virtual work in their emergency and continuity of operations plans in 2007.
Yet only 7% of eligible federal employees regularly telecommute. The Employment Policy foundation suggested that 65% of jobs could be done remotely, yet less than 30% of managers and professionals work virtually even one day a week and far fewer in more blue-collar jobs. Clearly, we have a long way to go.
The data about the benefits of virtual work are compelling. Is it really just unthinking fear that is stopping us? Change does create risk and new challenges. Individuals, managers, and even chief executives are feeling risk averse. It is not surprising that employees fear asking for flexibility or the ability to work virtually when they are fearful that their jobs might be cut. Likewise, managers who have the benefit of a hungry labor pool may not experience a strong push to make their employees' lives better at the risk of having that change create unforeseen challenges.
But businesses must recognize that there is a flipside to the risks of change - which is that there are risks in not changing, too. I have a hard time imagining a more efficient, environmentally sound, family-friendly work practice for a surprisingly broad swath of jobs in this country than virtual work. This is not the kind of opportunity business can afford to overlook.
It is time for those of us that have experienced the benefits of these non-traditional work practices to reassure others that embracing these new practices is not only good for the bottom line, butnecessary for success in the coming decade. Working virtually is what has enabled MoveOn.org and MomsRising.org to do so much with the resources we have. So I'm speaking out, and I hope others will too.
This Labor Day, it is time to get serious about embracing virtual work.
This blog is part of the Peaceful Revolution series that explores innovative ideas to strengthen America's families through public policies, business practices, and cultural change. Done in collaboration with MomsRising.org, read a new post here each week.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Outsourced Call Centers Return, To U.S. Homes
by Carolyn Beeler
August 25, 2010
Maureen Quigley-Hogan is the next generation of call center worker.
Wearing pink slippers and sitting at her desk in her home office in Virginia, she takes a call from a woman in New Jersey who has a question about her credit card bill.
Quigley-Hogan was unemployed for 10 years because she couldn't hold down a traditional job, she says. She has rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, a disease that causes severe fatigue.
"It was hard to get to a job," Quigley-Hogan says. "The idea of going through a regular schedule of getting up and getting ready for work, I would be exhausted."
She worked in customer service for more than 20 years, so two years ago, she was thrilled to land this job where she can work from home.
Lost In Translation: Call Center Blues
American customers say they have more trouble getting inquiries resolved efficiently when they're routed to call centers outside the U.S.
Rethinking Overseas Outsourcing
For years, Americans have had their phone calls about credit card bills and broken cell phones handled by people in the Philippines or India. But American firms are starting to bring call centers back to the U.S. — and this time around, they are hiring more people to work in their own homes.
Ten years ago, it made a lot of sense to outsource these jobs overseas. But that's changing. Increasingly, companies that want to outsource their customer service jobs are happy with these domestic arrangements.
High inflation and double-digit annual raises in some sectors are pushing up the cost of labor in India. At the same time wages in the U.S. are falling and companies are rethinking the trade-offs associated with outsourcing.
Weighing Costs And Woes
Richard Crespin, director of the Human Resources Outsourcing Association, says when companies decide whether to outsource overseas they have to weigh the costs as well as "the inconvenience of having something distant from you and not close in proximity — what I would call the pain-in-the-neck factor."
He says when wages drop in the company's home economy, those companies are less likely to outsource these jobs to other countries.
Experts say outsourcing is still accelerating for jobs in IT services and manufacturing. Phil Fersht, an outsourcing analyst, says even before the recession started, companies were starting to realize that offshoring wasn't the best option for other services.
In some cases, workers in India are making only about 15 percent less than workers in Nebraska, he says. That's the threshold where companies start thinking about whether it's worth it to hire an American worker instead of a foreign one.
Thousands Of Home Workers
Home workers, such as Quigley-Hogan, represent one of the cheapest models for customer service. There are an estimated 60,000 people doing call center work from home.
"It provides a lower cost point than other traditional means of onshore customer service," says Chris Carrington, who runs Alpine Access, the Denver-based company that Quigley-Hogan works for. Carrington says the low overhead of having home-based workers allows him to charge 20 percent less for the same services provided by brick-and-mortar call centers in the U.S.
"We don't have big buildings and we don't have all of that infrastructure cost, and so we're able to pay our people more and as well as lower our price for the customers we serve," he says.
Even with these cost-cutting measures, American workers are still the more expensive option. But industry watchers say so-called home sourcing will continue to grow as companies look for quality that used to be harder to afford.
August 25, 2010
Maureen Quigley-Hogan is the next generation of call center worker.
Wearing pink slippers and sitting at her desk in her home office in Virginia, she takes a call from a woman in New Jersey who has a question about her credit card bill.
Quigley-Hogan was unemployed for 10 years because she couldn't hold down a traditional job, she says. She has rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, a disease that causes severe fatigue.
"It was hard to get to a job," Quigley-Hogan says. "The idea of going through a regular schedule of getting up and getting ready for work, I would be exhausted."
She worked in customer service for more than 20 years, so two years ago, she was thrilled to land this job where she can work from home.
Lost In Translation: Call Center Blues
American customers say they have more trouble getting inquiries resolved efficiently when they're routed to call centers outside the U.S.
Rethinking Overseas Outsourcing
For years, Americans have had their phone calls about credit card bills and broken cell phones handled by people in the Philippines or India. But American firms are starting to bring call centers back to the U.S. — and this time around, they are hiring more people to work in their own homes.
Ten years ago, it made a lot of sense to outsource these jobs overseas. But that's changing. Increasingly, companies that want to outsource their customer service jobs are happy with these domestic arrangements.
High inflation and double-digit annual raises in some sectors are pushing up the cost of labor in India. At the same time wages in the U.S. are falling and companies are rethinking the trade-offs associated with outsourcing.
Weighing Costs And Woes
Richard Crespin, director of the Human Resources Outsourcing Association, says when companies decide whether to outsource overseas they have to weigh the costs as well as "the inconvenience of having something distant from you and not close in proximity — what I would call the pain-in-the-neck factor."
He says when wages drop in the company's home economy, those companies are less likely to outsource these jobs to other countries.
Experts say outsourcing is still accelerating for jobs in IT services and manufacturing. Phil Fersht, an outsourcing analyst, says even before the recession started, companies were starting to realize that offshoring wasn't the best option for other services.
In some cases, workers in India are making only about 15 percent less than workers in Nebraska, he says. That's the threshold where companies start thinking about whether it's worth it to hire an American worker instead of a foreign one.
Thousands Of Home Workers
Home workers, such as Quigley-Hogan, represent one of the cheapest models for customer service. There are an estimated 60,000 people doing call center work from home.
"It provides a lower cost point than other traditional means of onshore customer service," says Chris Carrington, who runs Alpine Access, the Denver-based company that Quigley-Hogan works for. Carrington says the low overhead of having home-based workers allows him to charge 20 percent less for the same services provided by brick-and-mortar call centers in the U.S.
"We don't have big buildings and we don't have all of that infrastructure cost, and so we're able to pay our people more and as well as lower our price for the customers we serve," he says.
Even with these cost-cutting measures, American workers are still the more expensive option. But industry watchers say so-called home sourcing will continue to grow as companies look for quality that used to be harder to afford.
Online Telecommuting Jobs for Fresh College Graduates
Just like what I have been saying for so many times now, telecommuting jobs are the future of earning money. You simply can’t resist the offers online which can provide at least 5 times the normal salary of a day job rate.
I know for a fact that many fresh graduates out there are looking for online jobs but they are not motivated to continue looking for them. Why? Because of nonsense negative comments about online working. Some will say that many of them are scams while others will say that it is impossible to earn money from cyberspace. Well, I am a living proof to the contrary of these claims. Why do I love online telecommuting jobs?
First, you no longer need spend money on your gas or transportation. You can stay at home all day and still rake in huge money.
Second, the investment for online careers are very minimal. You only need a computer with internet connection. Actually, these are not investments because you probably have both right at your home.
Third, forget about those company uniforms. You can wear anything you want while working on the internet.
Fourth, the pay from internet jobs are great. You cannot find such rates anywhere especially if you are a fresh grad looking for a job.
Fifth, you do not have a boss to please. You simply need to accomplish your given task and you will be paid with the salary that you have agreed with.
What types of online jobs for fresh graduates are available for me?
Well, you can become an online tutor agent. You may do this online using a VOIP connection. You can also become a freelance writing agent online. You will be writing essays and papers for the client. Or, you can simply apply for jobs that are really very easy to do. What are they? Well, you won’t believe this but online typist careers pay great. These typing jobs and data entry positions are very easy to do. You will earn big bucks by the volume.
So if you are a fresh graduate, then online jobs for entry level position is your stepping stone to internet success. Do not hesitate to find legit internet work. You won’t lose a thing just make sure you will not apply for jobs that require registration payments. They are probably scams.
I know for a fact that many fresh graduates out there are looking for online jobs but they are not motivated to continue looking for them. Why? Because of nonsense negative comments about online working. Some will say that many of them are scams while others will say that it is impossible to earn money from cyberspace. Well, I am a living proof to the contrary of these claims. Why do I love online telecommuting jobs?
First, you no longer need spend money on your gas or transportation. You can stay at home all day and still rake in huge money.
Second, the investment for online careers are very minimal. You only need a computer with internet connection. Actually, these are not investments because you probably have both right at your home.
Third, forget about those company uniforms. You can wear anything you want while working on the internet.
Fourth, the pay from internet jobs are great. You cannot find such rates anywhere especially if you are a fresh grad looking for a job.
Fifth, you do not have a boss to please. You simply need to accomplish your given task and you will be paid with the salary that you have agreed with.
What types of online jobs for fresh graduates are available for me?
Well, you can become an online tutor agent. You may do this online using a VOIP connection. You can also become a freelance writing agent online. You will be writing essays and papers for the client. Or, you can simply apply for jobs that are really very easy to do. What are they? Well, you won’t believe this but online typist careers pay great. These typing jobs and data entry positions are very easy to do. You will earn big bucks by the volume.
So if you are a fresh graduate, then online jobs for entry level position is your stepping stone to internet success. Do not hesitate to find legit internet work. You won’t lose a thing just make sure you will not apply for jobs that require registration payments. They are probably scams.
I know for a fact that many fresh graduates out there are looking for online jobs but they are not motivated to continue looking for them. Why? Because of nonsense negative comments about online working. Some will say that many of them are scams while others will say that it is impossible to earn money from cyberspace. Well, I am a living proof to the contrary of these claims. Why do I love online telecommuting jobs?
First, you no longer need spend money on your gas or transportation. You can stay at home all day and still rake in huge money.
Second, the investment for online careers are very minimal. You only need a computer with internet connection. Actually, these are not investments because you probably have both right at your home.
Third, forget about those company uniforms. You can wear anything you want while working on the internet.
Fourth, the pay from internet jobs are great. You cannot find such rates anywhere especially if you are a fresh grad looking for a job.
Fifth, you do not have a boss to please. You simply need to accomplish your given task and you will be paid with the salary that you have agreed with.
What types of online jobs for fresh graduates are available for me?
Well, you can become an online tutor agent. You may do this online using a VOIP connection. You can also become a freelance writing agent online. You will be writing essays and papers for the client. Or, you can simply apply for jobs that are really very easy to do. What are they? Well, you won’t believe this but online typist careers pay great. These typing jobs and data entry positions are very easy to do. You will earn big bucks by the volume.
So if you are a fresh graduate, then online jobs for entry level position is your stepping stone to internet success. Do not hesitate to find legit internet work. You won’t lose a thing just make sure you will not apply for jobs that require registration payments. They are probably scams.
I know for a fact that many fresh graduates out there are looking for online jobs but they are not motivated to continue looking for them. Why? Because of nonsense negative comments about online working. Some will say that many of them are scams while others will say that it is impossible to earn money from cyberspace. Well, I am a living proof to the contrary of these claims. Why do I love online telecommuting jobs?
First, you no longer need spend money on your gas or transportation. You can stay at home all day and still rake in huge money.
Second, the investment for online careers are very minimal. You only need a computer with internet connection. Actually, these are not investments because you probably have both right at your home.
Third, forget about those company uniforms. You can wear anything you want while working on the internet.
Fourth, the pay from internet jobs are great. You cannot find such rates anywhere especially if you are a fresh grad looking for a job.
Fifth, you do not have a boss to please. You simply need to accomplish your given task and you will be paid with the salary that you have agreed with.
What types of online jobs for fresh graduates are available for me?
Well, you can become an online tutor agent. You may do this online using a VOIP connection. You can also become a freelance writing agent online. You will be writing essays and papers for the client. Or, you can simply apply for jobs that are really very easy to do. What are they? Well, you won’t believe this but online typist careers pay great. These typing jobs and data entry positions are very easy to do. You will earn big bucks by the volume.
So if you are a fresh graduate, then online jobs for entry level position is your stepping stone to internet success. Do not hesitate to find legit internet work. You won’t lose a thing just make sure you will not apply for jobs that require registration payments. They are probably scams.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Congressman touts the advantages of telework
July 16, 2010 - 7:31pm
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.)
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) was one of the sponsors of the bill and explains how it would change the telework eligibility process in most federal agencies.
"It would require each federal agency to appoint a telework managing officer -- somebody within each agency who's really responsible [for coordinating] the telework policy. . . . OPM will develop uniform regulations across the board to support those efforts."
In addition, he says supervisors and managers will get training about telework and there will be regular evaluations of agency telework policies.
"[This] fulfills many, many objectives. It's going to help these agencies recruit better -- they'll be able to offer this kind of opportunity to prospective employees. It will, I think, raise both productivity and morale, because we've seen that clearly in those agencies that have been most proactive in their telework policies in the last few years. The continuity of operations dimension of this cannot be over stated, with the snowstorm of this past winter being a perfect example."
According to OPM's survey, 23 percent of federal employees say they are not allowed to telework. Sarbanes says he thinks this is why having a concrete telecommuting policy in place is so important.
"Having a telework managing officer in each agency, I think, is going to be very useful because they can test that proposition. It may be that some employees perceive that because they're in an environment where supervisors and managers really aren't promoting a culture where telework is developed. If you can get policies in place and individuals who are promoting it within the agency, you may discover in the next survey that people who thought they weren't allowed to do it or being discouraged from doing it in fact see that it's a real opportunity."
The congressman adds the number that jumped out at him the most was the one dealing with feds who thought they would never be able to telework because of the nature of their jobs. 36 percent of respondents said it would be very difficult or impossible for them to ever telecommute.
"That number could change itself, particularly over time, if we develop more secure opportunities for people who deal with more sensitive information. But, even if you accept that number, that means that there's 64 percent of the workforce that could take advantage of telework."
The bill is now headed to a House-Senate conference committee.
Email the author of this post at dramienski@federalnewsradio.com
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.)
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) was one of the sponsors of the bill and explains how it would change the telework eligibility process in most federal agencies.
"It would require each federal agency to appoint a telework managing officer -- somebody within each agency who's really responsible [for coordinating] the telework policy. . . . OPM will develop uniform regulations across the board to support those efforts."
In addition, he says supervisors and managers will get training about telework and there will be regular evaluations of agency telework policies.
"[This] fulfills many, many objectives. It's going to help these agencies recruit better -- they'll be able to offer this kind of opportunity to prospective employees. It will, I think, raise both productivity and morale, because we've seen that clearly in those agencies that have been most proactive in their telework policies in the last few years. The continuity of operations dimension of this cannot be over stated, with the snowstorm of this past winter being a perfect example."
According to OPM's survey, 23 percent of federal employees say they are not allowed to telework. Sarbanes says he thinks this is why having a concrete telecommuting policy in place is so important.
"Having a telework managing officer in each agency, I think, is going to be very useful because they can test that proposition. It may be that some employees perceive that because they're in an environment where supervisors and managers really aren't promoting a culture where telework is developed. If you can get policies in place and individuals who are promoting it within the agency, you may discover in the next survey that people who thought they weren't allowed to do it or being discouraged from doing it in fact see that it's a real opportunity."
The congressman adds the number that jumped out at him the most was the one dealing with feds who thought they would never be able to telework because of the nature of their jobs. 36 percent of respondents said it would be very difficult or impossible for them to ever telecommute.
"That number could change itself, particularly over time, if we develop more secure opportunities for people who deal with more sensitive information. But, even if you accept that number, that means that there's 64 percent of the workforce that could take advantage of telework."
The bill is now headed to a House-Senate conference committee.
Email the author of this post at dramienski@federalnewsradio.com
Thursday, July 1, 2010
AT&T gives its telecommuters flex space - Dallas Business Journal
Blog: DBJ Confidential.Kerri Panchuk
Web Reporter AT&T gives its telecommuters flex space.Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 2:32pm CDT
If you love telecommuting to work, you’re gonna love what AT&T is doing for its employees who work from outside of the office.
The telecommunications giant opened its first tPlace flexible work space in Richardson on Wednesday, giving 725 telecommuting employees a spot where they can meet with fellow team members and clients.
Richardson-based AT&T (NYSE: T) said the space gives mobile employees a place to go when they are looking for an office environment that features state-of-the-art conference rooms and work stations that accommodate their technology needs.
The office is at 2270 Lakeside Boulevard in Richardson and includes 4,000 square feet of space.
“This new workspace provides an opportunity for our telecommuting employees to come together at one central location, and it also supports a healthy work-life balance with a location closer to many of our employees’ homes,” said Mark Schleyer, AT&T senior vice president, corporate real estate. “The location is designed to support our employees’ needs and provide a convenient and comfortable work environment.”
Employees arriving at the facility can reserve conference rooms or office space using a touch screen virtual concierge service.
kerripanchuk@bizjournals.com
Web Reporter AT&T gives its telecommuters flex space.Wednesday, June 30, 2010, 2:32pm CDT
If you love telecommuting to work, you’re gonna love what AT&T is doing for its employees who work from outside of the office.
The telecommunications giant opened its first tPlace flexible work space in Richardson on Wednesday, giving 725 telecommuting employees a spot where they can meet with fellow team members and clients.
Richardson-based AT&T (NYSE: T) said the space gives mobile employees a place to go when they are looking for an office environment that features state-of-the-art conference rooms and work stations that accommodate their technology needs.
The office is at 2270 Lakeside Boulevard in Richardson and includes 4,000 square feet of space.
“This new workspace provides an opportunity for our telecommuting employees to come together at one central location, and it also supports a healthy work-life balance with a location closer to many of our employees’ homes,” said Mark Schleyer, AT&T senior vice president, corporate real estate. “The location is designed to support our employees’ needs and provide a convenient and comfortable work environment.”
Employees arriving at the facility can reserve conference rooms or office space using a touch screen virtual concierge service.
kerripanchuk@bizjournals.com
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Telecommuting – The New Norm?
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
At a time when the economy is slow and money is tight, what can firms do to reduce costs and increase their profit margin? The answer is in eliminating so-called fixed costs such as rent, electricity, and office space – otherwise referred to as Telecommuting.
More and more firms are catching on to the idea, allowing employees to work from home or another space of their choice. Austin-based firm Ariesnet Inc. has operated as a virtual office for six years now. While CEO Cruce Sanders was originally unsure how long the firm would be able to sustain a telecommuting workforce, he now has complete faith in the system.
Sanders said “We’ve learned we can be more productive, more profitable and more nimble. Our team members – programmers, project managers, consultants – get to live flexible lives while our clients experience high-quality, high-availability service. It’s better for all involved, including our families and the environment.”
According to a survey by the Austin Business Journal, half of the CEOs in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization allow telecommuting, while another 41 percent said it could be an option in the future. Only 9 percent said telecommuting was not an option.
If you are one of those companies considering telecommuting, here are 5 tips to help successfully manage your virtual office:
Set Expectations
Specify and document what is expected of telecommuters. Set up guidelines for how, when, where, and how well projects are to be completed.
Agree on a Schedule
Obviously telecommuting allows more flexibility than a typical 9-5 workday. However, a basic outline detailing days worked, hours worked, and breaks should be established.
Evaluate Performance
Focus on the results rather than the activities. Are your employees completing their projects in a timely manner? Is the work product of good quality? If so, you’ve probably found a good balance.
Maintain Communications
Just because you don’t communicate face-to-face anymore does not mean you should slack on overall communication. Keep an open line of communication about events, information, deadlines, and meetings.
Assess and Adjust as Necessary
Feedback is critical. Find out what the staff thinks is working and what needs improvement. Consider the responses and make appropriate adjustments.
Posted by Cook & Associates, CPAs at 2:10 PM
At a time when the economy is slow and money is tight, what can firms do to reduce costs and increase their profit margin? The answer is in eliminating so-called fixed costs such as rent, electricity, and office space – otherwise referred to as Telecommuting.
More and more firms are catching on to the idea, allowing employees to work from home or another space of their choice. Austin-based firm Ariesnet Inc. has operated as a virtual office for six years now. While CEO Cruce Sanders was originally unsure how long the firm would be able to sustain a telecommuting workforce, he now has complete faith in the system.
Sanders said “We’ve learned we can be more productive, more profitable and more nimble. Our team members – programmers, project managers, consultants – get to live flexible lives while our clients experience high-quality, high-availability service. It’s better for all involved, including our families and the environment.”
According to a survey by the Austin Business Journal, half of the CEOs in the Entrepreneurs’ Organization allow telecommuting, while another 41 percent said it could be an option in the future. Only 9 percent said telecommuting was not an option.
If you are one of those companies considering telecommuting, here are 5 tips to help successfully manage your virtual office:
Set Expectations
Specify and document what is expected of telecommuters. Set up guidelines for how, when, where, and how well projects are to be completed.
Agree on a Schedule
Obviously telecommuting allows more flexibility than a typical 9-5 workday. However, a basic outline detailing days worked, hours worked, and breaks should be established.
Evaluate Performance
Focus on the results rather than the activities. Are your employees completing their projects in a timely manner? Is the work product of good quality? If so, you’ve probably found a good balance.
Maintain Communications
Just because you don’t communicate face-to-face anymore does not mean you should slack on overall communication. Keep an open line of communication about events, information, deadlines, and meetings.
Assess and Adjust as Necessary
Feedback is critical. Find out what the staff thinks is working and what needs improvement. Consider the responses and make appropriate adjustments.
Posted by Cook & Associates, CPAs at 2:10 PM
Monday, June 28, 2010
Telecommute Now Launches Free Telecommuting Job Search Strategy Guide
By bigeyepublishing
Available for immediate download, Telecommute Now visitors looking for telecommute work will have access to the brand new Telecommute Now Job Search Strategy Guide at no cost. This new and up-to-date strategy guide will give an edge to those searching for coveted telecommuting jobs offered by real companies.
This new guide will be available to visitors 24 hours per day and gives advice regarding the top five places on the internet to locate these real work at home jobs, in addition to other tips and tricks to locate and land a great telecommuting position for a real company.
Keith Barnett, editor of Telecommute-Now.org, explains “Real telecommuting jobs are available today. You just have to know where to look for them. This new guide will help stay-at-home moms, dads and others find good paying jobs without having to commute daily to work.”
“We wanted to create a job search guide tailored to the telecommuting industry providing would-be telecommuters with up-to-date information on where to locate these highly sought after telecommuting jobs. In this competitive job search market, knowing exactly where and how to find these types of jobs is crucial and this guide serves to decrease the amount of time it takes to find a telecommuting job that fits.”
For more information on obtaining this free telecommuting job search strategy guide visit the Telecommute Now website to learn more.
Article Source: http://www.a.mooladays.com/22221/telecommute-now-launches-free-telecommuting-job-search-strategy-guide
Available for immediate download, Telecommute Now visitors looking for telecommute work will have access to the brand new Telecommute Now Job Search Strategy Guide at no cost. This new and up-to-date strategy guide will give an edge to those searching for coveted telecommuting jobs offered by real companies.
This new guide will be available to visitors 24 hours per day and gives advice regarding the top five places on the internet to locate these real work at home jobs, in addition to other tips and tricks to locate and land a great telecommuting position for a real company.
Keith Barnett, editor of Telecommute-Now.org, explains “Real telecommuting jobs are available today. You just have to know where to look for them. This new guide will help stay-at-home moms, dads and others find good paying jobs without having to commute daily to work.”
“We wanted to create a job search guide tailored to the telecommuting industry providing would-be telecommuters with up-to-date information on where to locate these highly sought after telecommuting jobs. In this competitive job search market, knowing exactly where and how to find these types of jobs is crucial and this guide serves to decrease the amount of time it takes to find a telecommuting job that fits.”
For more information on obtaining this free telecommuting job search strategy guide visit the Telecommute Now website to learn more.
Article Source: http://www.a.mooladays.com/22221/telecommute-now-launches-free-telecommuting-job-search-strategy-guide
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Bill to expand federal workers' telecommuting options falls short in House
Bill to expand federal workers' telecommuting options falls short in House
Source: Washington Post
May 7, 2010
Legislation that would give federal workers the option to work from home ran into a significant roadblock Thursday, failing to get the two-thirds majority in the House that would have expanded telework options across the government.
The bill drew 268 votes of support in the House but fell nine short of passage because it was brought up under special fast-track rules. It could return to the floor later in the legislative calendar, but that is not assured.
Similar legislation awaits a vote in the Senate.
Although slightly different, the measures essentially require federal agencies to appoint telework managing officers to oversee new policies developed by each agency and the Office of Personnel Management. Employees could telework only if doing so would not affect agency operations. The bills prohibit workers who handle secure or classified materials or information or who perform tasks that cannot be performed remotely from teleworking.
About 61 percent of federal workers are eligible to telework, but only 5 percent do so regularly, according to the OPM. The agency's director, John M. Berry, has devoted most of his tenure to convincing lawmakers and other skeptics that telework options are necessary to help retain and recruit potential federal hires.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the House bill would cost $30 million, which Republicans deemed too expensive.
The bill's chief sponsor, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), argued that it would save taxpayer dollars in the long term, noting that federal employees who worked from home during this year's snowstorms saved the government about $30 million by maintaining operations.
"This bill would be a win for the taxpayer," Sarbanes said in a statement. "It would also bolster the federal workforce, improve traffic in the D.C. area, and reduce carbon emissions -- all in one fell swoop."
Sarbanes and others have used the snowstorms, subsequent federal snow days and President Obama's recent nuclear security summit as examples of how teleworking could help maintain government operations when downtown Washington is locked down.
Cindy Austen of the Telework Exchange, a group pushing for greater federal workplace flexibilities, said her organization will keep pushing for passage.
"We have to showcase not just what it means for federal workers, but we also have to do a good job of showing how agencies have progressed on telework and improved operations," Austen said.
Source: Washington Post
May 7, 2010
Legislation that would give federal workers the option to work from home ran into a significant roadblock Thursday, failing to get the two-thirds majority in the House that would have expanded telework options across the government.
The bill drew 268 votes of support in the House but fell nine short of passage because it was brought up under special fast-track rules. It could return to the floor later in the legislative calendar, but that is not assured.
Similar legislation awaits a vote in the Senate.
Although slightly different, the measures essentially require federal agencies to appoint telework managing officers to oversee new policies developed by each agency and the Office of Personnel Management. Employees could telework only if doing so would not affect agency operations. The bills prohibit workers who handle secure or classified materials or information or who perform tasks that cannot be performed remotely from teleworking.
About 61 percent of federal workers are eligible to telework, but only 5 percent do so regularly, according to the OPM. The agency's director, John M. Berry, has devoted most of his tenure to convincing lawmakers and other skeptics that telework options are necessary to help retain and recruit potential federal hires.
The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the House bill would cost $30 million, which Republicans deemed too expensive.
The bill's chief sponsor, Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.), argued that it would save taxpayer dollars in the long term, noting that federal employees who worked from home during this year's snowstorms saved the government about $30 million by maintaining operations.
"This bill would be a win for the taxpayer," Sarbanes said in a statement. "It would also bolster the federal workforce, improve traffic in the D.C. area, and reduce carbon emissions -- all in one fell swoop."
Sarbanes and others have used the snowstorms, subsequent federal snow days and President Obama's recent nuclear security summit as examples of how teleworking could help maintain government operations when downtown Washington is locked down.
Cindy Austen of the Telework Exchange, a group pushing for greater federal workplace flexibilities, said her organization will keep pushing for passage.
"We have to showcase not just what it means for federal workers, but we also have to do a good job of showing how agencies have progressed on telework and improved operations," Austen said.
Monday, May 3, 2010
How to Handle Office Politics When You Aren’t In the Office
How to Handle Office Politics When You Aren’t In the Office
One of the problems with working remotely is that you’ll be out of the loop when it comes to office politics. At times, that may seem like a good thing — you can actually get work done rather than participating in all the discussions that happen around the water cooler. On the other hand, it’s not unheard of for someone to pass the blame for a problem to a colleague who isn’t around, and playing the office politics game can be the only way to land a promotion in some organizations. Just because you’re telecommuting doesn’t mean that you don’t need to know what’s going on back in the office.
Make Sure You’ve Got the Necessary Information
When it all comes down to it, a big element of office politics is gossip. That doesn’t make gossip a good thing, but it does mean that you need to make sure you’re aware of the stories passed around in the office. You won’t get that information in big online meetings — you have to build relationships on a one-on-one basis. That can mean making a point of emailing, calling or otherwise chatting with everyone who is back in the office that you can. If it’s geographically convenient, you can even go out to lunch on a regular basis.
Having those relationships are important for more reasons than just getting the gossip, though. It’s harder for the buck to get passed your way if you are an active participant in the office’s culture, whether or not you’re actually in the office. Higher-ups are also less likely to buy into such situations if they actually interact with you on a regular basis beyond the occasional email update or mass meeting.
Don’t Opt Out of Office Politics
It may be tempting to choose not to be a part of the behind-the-scenes discussions and negotiations that make up office politics since you’re telecommuting. Your lower stress levels from such a decision will be short-term, however. Office politics can be the reason that certain projects get funded and certain employees get promoted. You need to be involved enough that your opinions and input are considered in those sorts of decisions.
It doesn’t hurt if you have an advocate on the inside — someone actually in the office who will speak up for you at the water cooler, when you can’t possibly be there. While you don’t want to pin all of your office interaction hopes on one person, if there is someone who understands your situation and is sympathetic, office politics can get a lot easier. But you can’t convince someone to help you out unless you’re maintaining those ties inside the office — and you may not know that you need someone’s help until it’s too late.
One of the problems with working remotely is that you’ll be out of the loop when it comes to office politics. At times, that may seem like a good thing — you can actually get work done rather than participating in all the discussions that happen around the water cooler. On the other hand, it’s not unheard of for someone to pass the blame for a problem to a colleague who isn’t around, and playing the office politics game can be the only way to land a promotion in some organizations. Just because you’re telecommuting doesn’t mean that you don’t need to know what’s going on back in the office.
Make Sure You’ve Got the Necessary Information
When it all comes down to it, a big element of office politics is gossip. That doesn’t make gossip a good thing, but it does mean that you need to make sure you’re aware of the stories passed around in the office. You won’t get that information in big online meetings — you have to build relationships on a one-on-one basis. That can mean making a point of emailing, calling or otherwise chatting with everyone who is back in the office that you can. If it’s geographically convenient, you can even go out to lunch on a regular basis.
Having those relationships are important for more reasons than just getting the gossip, though. It’s harder for the buck to get passed your way if you are an active participant in the office’s culture, whether or not you’re actually in the office. Higher-ups are also less likely to buy into such situations if they actually interact with you on a regular basis beyond the occasional email update or mass meeting.
Don’t Opt Out of Office Politics
It may be tempting to choose not to be a part of the behind-the-scenes discussions and negotiations that make up office politics since you’re telecommuting. Your lower stress levels from such a decision will be short-term, however. Office politics can be the reason that certain projects get funded and certain employees get promoted. You need to be involved enough that your opinions and input are considered in those sorts of decisions.
It doesn’t hurt if you have an advocate on the inside — someone actually in the office who will speak up for you at the water cooler, when you can’t possibly be there. While you don’t want to pin all of your office interaction hopes on one person, if there is someone who understands your situation and is sympathetic, office politics can get a lot easier. But you can’t convince someone to help you out unless you’re maintaining those ties inside the office — and you may not know that you need someone’s help until it’s too late.
Friday, April 30, 2010
5 Legit Telecommuting Jobs
Ok so you want to go to the internet and find a better paying or a home job. Here are the top 5 legit home jobs you can do on the internet.
eJury.com - what you do is you take an oath to become an e-juror. The website is law firms "trying our their case", where it used to be focus groups, but now this is an online home job. You review their case and you give a "verdict" saying I will give this amount. The firms will listen to this review and it helps them make a determination about their case. They pay from $5 to $10 a case and it may take you from half an hour to an hour to complete it. The downside is, you never know when you will get called to be a juror. So this is not bankable income but it is a good source of extra income, maybe to supplement paying for your internet access, or cell phone bill.
Seed.com - a site making money where you can be a photographer, photojournalist, write, or blog. Where renowned journalists have basically put out a casting call for written content and photography. When you go to the site the assignments are right there to see and there are no shortage of assignments. Many of them are simple, but the catch is, you must produce high quality content. They will only accept the best and that's when you get paid. They do however offer some training and learning opportunities to learn the tricks of the trades so you can produce what they want. If you are good then there is a lot of money to be made.
ChaCha.com - is the website for all of you online researchers. The site has over a million questions a day, so the people answering the questions are called guides. You will be giving the results of the inquiries from the moment you clock in. There are people making hundreds of dollars a month so this is an excellent home job to make extra income.
VIPdesk.com - is customer service from remote locations. This is the way the customer service industry is headed, where it will be home job workers, home based contractors. There are several large customer service based companies who are associated with VIPdesk who need workers but are willing to allow them to work where they are comfortable. They pay about $10-$12 an hour. It is a plus if you are bilingual.
Elance.com - freelancer jobs you get based on proposals. There are thousands of projects ready to go and if you have your proposal accepted, you can make part time or even full time money.
There are some red flags to look out for when searching for an online home job. If you have to purchase something upfront, sort of a get ready kit, then you may want to be cautious. This does not apply with everyone, as you know its important to have the right equipment, software, etc. and if you don't have it then you will need to purchase it in order to do the job. Some companies are more specific than others.
If a company asks for detailed or personal and financial information, this is a red flag. Yes you will need to provide some information but the best advice is to go to the site, instead of just responding to an email that has been pushed to you.
Brenden Bell has created a website to help people find home jobs and do more to help their financial situation.
See hundreds of other home job listings including well paying full time positions.
Visit http://www.coolhomejob.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenden_Bell
eJury.com - what you do is you take an oath to become an e-juror. The website is law firms "trying our their case", where it used to be focus groups, but now this is an online home job. You review their case and you give a "verdict" saying I will give this amount. The firms will listen to this review and it helps them make a determination about their case. They pay from $5 to $10 a case and it may take you from half an hour to an hour to complete it. The downside is, you never know when you will get called to be a juror. So this is not bankable income but it is a good source of extra income, maybe to supplement paying for your internet access, or cell phone bill.
Seed.com - a site making money where you can be a photographer, photojournalist, write, or blog. Where renowned journalists have basically put out a casting call for written content and photography. When you go to the site the assignments are right there to see and there are no shortage of assignments. Many of them are simple, but the catch is, you must produce high quality content. They will only accept the best and that's when you get paid. They do however offer some training and learning opportunities to learn the tricks of the trades so you can produce what they want. If you are good then there is a lot of money to be made.
ChaCha.com - is the website for all of you online researchers. The site has over a million questions a day, so the people answering the questions are called guides. You will be giving the results of the inquiries from the moment you clock in. There are people making hundreds of dollars a month so this is an excellent home job to make extra income.
VIPdesk.com - is customer service from remote locations. This is the way the customer service industry is headed, where it will be home job workers, home based contractors. There are several large customer service based companies who are associated with VIPdesk who need workers but are willing to allow them to work where they are comfortable. They pay about $10-$12 an hour. It is a plus if you are bilingual.
Elance.com - freelancer jobs you get based on proposals. There are thousands of projects ready to go and if you have your proposal accepted, you can make part time or even full time money.
There are some red flags to look out for when searching for an online home job. If you have to purchase something upfront, sort of a get ready kit, then you may want to be cautious. This does not apply with everyone, as you know its important to have the right equipment, software, etc. and if you don't have it then you will need to purchase it in order to do the job. Some companies are more specific than others.
If a company asks for detailed or personal and financial information, this is a red flag. Yes you will need to provide some information but the best advice is to go to the site, instead of just responding to an email that has been pushed to you.
Brenden Bell has created a website to help people find home jobs and do more to help their financial situation.
See hundreds of other home job listings including well paying full time positions.
Visit http://www.coolhomejob.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brenden_Bell
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Convince The Boss That You Should Telecommute
Convince The Boss That You Should Telecommute
Alexandra Levit 04.26.10, 3:05 PM ET
As a design project manager at a top Internet marketing firm, Lindy Morris loved her job but couldn't stand the commute. When the price of gas soared to over $4 a gallon, she realized she was spending a small fortune getting to and from her office on Colorado's western slope.
Lindy had been with the company for four years and was already working at home one day a week. Now she chanced negotiating a permanent telecommuting arrangement with her boss. "Because our company has a core value of healthy work-life balance, all of our major software is available remotely, and because we have Internet phone lines I thought she might be amenable to it," she says. "When I approached her I mentioned my existing productivity working from home and how I felt that we could continue to measure that success while telecommuting full-time. I promised to be available to my clients during normal business hours and to return to the office two days a month for meetings."
Lindy has never been happier. "I get to work from home and also know I have a secure, reliable job," she says.
Her arrangement isn't unique. Organizations around the world are implementing telework with enthusiasm. According to a 2008 study by the American Electronics Association, 45 million Americans already telecommute at least one day a week. BT, a leading provider of communications solutions, hired its first home worker in 1986; today more than 70% of BT's employees benefit from flexible working. The company estimates that it has saved at least $500 million and has improved its productivity by between 15% and 31%.
How do you determine if telecommuting is for you? Laura Stack, a productivity expert, says the best candidates are people who are disciplined and self-motivated: "When your boss says, 'Here's a project, figure it out by this deadline,' do you get it done? Can you stay focused despite distractions and see a task through to completion?" She also says you need to be naturally organized and skilled at time management. "People who work from home should be able to schedule realistically and prioritize correctly."
If you think you fit the bill, your first step in making telecommuting a reality is to talk with someone in human resources to find out just how your organization's flexible work policy works. Don't despair if there's no official policy in place. There may be others in your department who are telecommuting successfully, and if you have established a high level of trust with your manager, broaching the issue won't be unreasonable.
To make the argument for telecommuting, prepare a written proposal that puts the organization first and addresses, upfront, the issues you know your boss will be concerned about. "The key is to present teleworking as a benefit to the employer," says Michelle Goodman, a teleworker and author of My So-Called Freelance Life (Seal Press, 2008). "I was once offered a contracting position in which I explained that I could get the same amount of work done in three-quarters of the time from my own office--without the usual interruptions that come with working in a room full of people. It would also be one fewer desk, phone and computer they had to provide and one more notch in their belt as an earth-friendly employer that does what it can to keep cars off the road."
Your proposal should detail how you'll set up your home office, and it should assure your manager that you will have a clean, quiet and child-free work environment in which to complete your duties. "Your boss will want to know that you have a zippy Internet connection, a dedicated phone number and all the necessary supplies," Goodman says.
Suggest a trial period for the telecommuting arrangement after which you and your manager can evaluate how it's working. Once you're off and running, make a conscious effort to show your boss that you're cutting expenses and getting more done faster. Make sure you're always accessible via e-mail and cellphone during the business day, and report often on where projects stand, so your boss can easily keep tabs on you.
Telecommuting shouldn't mean you never see the inside of the office building again. If you supervise other employees, or make presentations about your initiatives, or are a key participant in team meetings, show up in person as often as you can. Telecommuting must not compromise the critical workplace relationships you've spent time and energy building.
If you're currently job hunting and want to get into a telework situation right at the start, you can turn to a variety of websites that list such positions. FlexJobs.com, for example, is a low-cost subscription service that identifies and screens legitimate telecommuting jobs. Just be aware that telework positions tend to be much more competitive, so your résumé should detail a history of independent work that produced stellar results.
Alexandra Levit writes often about workplace and career matters and is the author of They Don't Teach Corporate in College, How'd You Score That Gig? and Success for Hire.
Alexandra Levit 04.26.10, 3:05 PM ET
As a design project manager at a top Internet marketing firm, Lindy Morris loved her job but couldn't stand the commute. When the price of gas soared to over $4 a gallon, she realized she was spending a small fortune getting to and from her office on Colorado's western slope.
Lindy had been with the company for four years and was already working at home one day a week. Now she chanced negotiating a permanent telecommuting arrangement with her boss. "Because our company has a core value of healthy work-life balance, all of our major software is available remotely, and because we have Internet phone lines I thought she might be amenable to it," she says. "When I approached her I mentioned my existing productivity working from home and how I felt that we could continue to measure that success while telecommuting full-time. I promised to be available to my clients during normal business hours and to return to the office two days a month for meetings."
Lindy has never been happier. "I get to work from home and also know I have a secure, reliable job," she says.
Her arrangement isn't unique. Organizations around the world are implementing telework with enthusiasm. According to a 2008 study by the American Electronics Association, 45 million Americans already telecommute at least one day a week. BT, a leading provider of communications solutions, hired its first home worker in 1986; today more than 70% of BT's employees benefit from flexible working. The company estimates that it has saved at least $500 million and has improved its productivity by between 15% and 31%.
How do you determine if telecommuting is for you? Laura Stack, a productivity expert, says the best candidates are people who are disciplined and self-motivated: "When your boss says, 'Here's a project, figure it out by this deadline,' do you get it done? Can you stay focused despite distractions and see a task through to completion?" She also says you need to be naturally organized and skilled at time management. "People who work from home should be able to schedule realistically and prioritize correctly."
If you think you fit the bill, your first step in making telecommuting a reality is to talk with someone in human resources to find out just how your organization's flexible work policy works. Don't despair if there's no official policy in place. There may be others in your department who are telecommuting successfully, and if you have established a high level of trust with your manager, broaching the issue won't be unreasonable.
To make the argument for telecommuting, prepare a written proposal that puts the organization first and addresses, upfront, the issues you know your boss will be concerned about. "The key is to present teleworking as a benefit to the employer," says Michelle Goodman, a teleworker and author of My So-Called Freelance Life (Seal Press, 2008). "I was once offered a contracting position in which I explained that I could get the same amount of work done in three-quarters of the time from my own office--without the usual interruptions that come with working in a room full of people. It would also be one fewer desk, phone and computer they had to provide and one more notch in their belt as an earth-friendly employer that does what it can to keep cars off the road."
Your proposal should detail how you'll set up your home office, and it should assure your manager that you will have a clean, quiet and child-free work environment in which to complete your duties. "Your boss will want to know that you have a zippy Internet connection, a dedicated phone number and all the necessary supplies," Goodman says.
Suggest a trial period for the telecommuting arrangement after which you and your manager can evaluate how it's working. Once you're off and running, make a conscious effort to show your boss that you're cutting expenses and getting more done faster. Make sure you're always accessible via e-mail and cellphone during the business day, and report often on where projects stand, so your boss can easily keep tabs on you.
Telecommuting shouldn't mean you never see the inside of the office building again. If you supervise other employees, or make presentations about your initiatives, or are a key participant in team meetings, show up in person as often as you can. Telecommuting must not compromise the critical workplace relationships you've spent time and energy building.
If you're currently job hunting and want to get into a telework situation right at the start, you can turn to a variety of websites that list such positions. FlexJobs.com, for example, is a low-cost subscription service that identifies and screens legitimate telecommuting jobs. Just be aware that telework positions tend to be much more competitive, so your résumé should detail a history of independent work that produced stellar results.
Alexandra Levit writes often about workplace and career matters and is the author of They Don't Teach Corporate in College, How'd You Score That Gig? and Success for Hire.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
How to Prevent Telecommuting From Hurting Your Performance Appraisal
How to Prevent Telecommuting From Hurting Your Performance Appraisal
Telecommuting to work does not mean that you will not be required to undergo a performance appraisal. These days, more and more companies are hiring employees to telecommute to work, or offering current employees the option to turn their position into a telecommuting one. Still, though, these same companies are requiring performance reviews and employee appraisals as a means to cut costs and maintain quality employees. There are several things you can do to prevent the fact that you are telecommuting to work from negatively affecting your performance appraisal.
Review Telecommuting Policies
Each company that hires workers to telecommute has most likely created a telecommuting policy to govern such employees. If you did not receive a copy of these rules prior to starting your job, ask for them as soon as you are told of your performance appraisal. Thoroughly review these rules and incorporate them into your performance if necessary. It is also wise to note those rules you currently adhere to so that should any question about your adherence to certain rules arise during your performance review you will know which ones to dispute.
If the company does not have a specific telecommuting policy, inquire as to whether there is an employee handbook and whether it applies to telecommuting workers. Even if it doesn't, ask for a copy to make sure you are or do not violate any company policies.
Keep Thorough Records
Telecommuting to work means that there is nobody looking over your should to make sure you are productive and doing your job. As such, it falls to you to show that your behavior and performance are appropriate. The best way to do this is to keep records of all phone calls or conferences made for work. In a separate notebook, make note of the beginning and ending of any work calls, who you called and a short description of your conversation. Additionally, keep a copy of every work-related email and other documents produced or sent for business purposes.
Watch Your Time
It is also wise to keep a log of your work hours. Just because you are not in an office does not mean that you are able to dedicate less time to your position. You should also keep records of any vacation days, extended lunches or other things that you were knowingly not working. Keeping track of the hours you work will enable you to prove your attendance should anyone dispute your presence or availability during work hours. It is also an extremely good idea for you to keep track of those times when you were not available for a short period of time and did not immediately respond to a telephone call or email.
Keep in Touch
As a telecommuting employee, it is imperative that you have regular contact with your boss or home office. Because you are not in the same building as the other employees, you may not be informed of important changes in policy or other business happenings which are important for your position. The best way to do this is to check in once a week with your local human resources office or your boss. Send an email re-cap of your week to your boss or place a regularly scheduled call to speak with him about your week. This will enable you to gather any information you need or want.
Telecommuting is the future for most companies, but that does not mean they expect less from their employees. Consider it part of your job to maintain records to use during your employee appraisal and you will not be worried when it becomes time for your review.
Telecommuting to work does not mean that you will not be required to undergo a performance appraisal. These days, more and more companies are hiring employees to telecommute to work, or offering current employees the option to turn their position into a telecommuting one. Still, though, these same companies are requiring performance reviews and employee appraisals as a means to cut costs and maintain quality employees. There are several things you can do to prevent the fact that you are telecommuting to work from negatively affecting your performance appraisal.
Review Telecommuting Policies
Each company that hires workers to telecommute has most likely created a telecommuting policy to govern such employees. If you did not receive a copy of these rules prior to starting your job, ask for them as soon as you are told of your performance appraisal. Thoroughly review these rules and incorporate them into your performance if necessary. It is also wise to note those rules you currently adhere to so that should any question about your adherence to certain rules arise during your performance review you will know which ones to dispute.
If the company does not have a specific telecommuting policy, inquire as to whether there is an employee handbook and whether it applies to telecommuting workers. Even if it doesn't, ask for a copy to make sure you are or do not violate any company policies.
Keep Thorough Records
Telecommuting to work means that there is nobody looking over your should to make sure you are productive and doing your job. As such, it falls to you to show that your behavior and performance are appropriate. The best way to do this is to keep records of all phone calls or conferences made for work. In a separate notebook, make note of the beginning and ending of any work calls, who you called and a short description of your conversation. Additionally, keep a copy of every work-related email and other documents produced or sent for business purposes.
Watch Your Time
It is also wise to keep a log of your work hours. Just because you are not in an office does not mean that you are able to dedicate less time to your position. You should also keep records of any vacation days, extended lunches or other things that you were knowingly not working. Keeping track of the hours you work will enable you to prove your attendance should anyone dispute your presence or availability during work hours. It is also an extremely good idea for you to keep track of those times when you were not available for a short period of time and did not immediately respond to a telephone call or email.
Keep in Touch
As a telecommuting employee, it is imperative that you have regular contact with your boss or home office. Because you are not in the same building as the other employees, you may not be informed of important changes in policy or other business happenings which are important for your position. The best way to do this is to check in once a week with your local human resources office or your boss. Send an email re-cap of your week to your boss or place a regularly scheduled call to speak with him about your week. This will enable you to gather any information you need or want.
Telecommuting is the future for most companies, but that does not mean they expect less from their employees. Consider it part of your job to maintain records to use during your employee appraisal and you will not be worried when it becomes time for your review.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
How Telecommuting Could Affect Real Estate Values
How Telecommuting Could Affect Real Estate Values
Posted on April 5, 2010 More than 12 million people in the U.S. are telecommuters working from home (or Starbucks) for eight or more hours per week, according to Gartner Dataquest. That’s a 100 percent increase from the six million telecommuters in 2000.
Gartner projects that by 2012, more than 25 percent of U.S. employees will be telecommuters. This represents a dynamic shift in the daily location of millions of people.
Since we are always interested in looking at how demographic changes may shape the real estate market in the future, we’ve evaluated the possible effects of rapid growth in telecommuting on a number of different types of real estate.
Many telecommuters work from home part-time
Urban Real Estate
It is possible that telecommuting could have a negative effect on real estate values in the inner cities of major metropolitan areas. Real estate values are generally higher the closer the real estate is to the downtown area. Visually, this can be seen in the gradual rise in the heights of buildings and structures. One of the main drivers for real estate values in urban locales is the proximity to work locations, since downtown areas typically have a high density of office workers.
Take: Minimal Effect if Any
Those who choose to live in the inner city do so for the urban lifestyle’s culture, entertainment and social activities. Urban living is typically dominated by a younger demographic drawn to the city for reasons other than just being close to the office.
The Suburbs
Telecommuting has the potential to affect the suburbs in both positive and negative ways. It’s reasonable to think that value differentials between inner city real estate and the suburbs, in large part, are representative of the commute factor. With that in mind, it would appear telecommuting could help close the gap between real estate prices in the city and on the outskirts. However, that doesn’t factor in how telecommuting could cause an exodus from the ‘burbs. If you could work from anywhere, would you still choose to live in the suburbs?
Take: Minimal Effect if Any
Judging telecommuting’s future effect on suburban markets is difficult. For one, it appears that most telecommuting is done part-time—one or two days per week, for example. This would still seem to leave enough commuting time to maintain the value gap between homes closer in to the city versus further out. Second, even if commuting becomes less of a factor in real estate prices, there will still be favored communities because of the desirability of specific neighborhoods and access to amenities. In other words, not all suburbs are equal. Ultimately, we think that face-to-face office collaboration will still be frequent enough to keep the effects of telecommuting to a minimum, but perhaps an expanded office or built-in bookcase could add a few more dollars to the value of your home.
Winter Bird Properties
Winter bird areas may benefit from baby boomer telecommuting
The baby boomer’s dream: spend the winters in a sunny location and the summers at home near the grandkids. This scenario, combined with increased telecommuting, could dramatically expand the market for winter bird properties. The U.S. population is aging: 24 percent of the workforce—38 million people—will be over the age of 55 by 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only 36 percent of adults aged 41 to 54 expect to retire on time, according to a 2005 Harris Interactive study, because of a lack of savings and extended life expectancies. Telecommuting would seem like an ideal way for many baby boomers to continue to work but achieve some form of a retirement lifestyle.
Take: Moderate Effect
We think that the winter bird phenomenon is more than just an aberration; it’s a trend. Unfortunately, we’re not so sure there is a real investor advantage in getting into these markets right now. The five most overbuilt markets in the U.S. include two cities in the desert and three in Florida. It looks like winter bird markets are already receiving plenty of attention.
Foreign Real Estate
Could telecommuting affect the prices of foreign real estate? In many locations close to the U.S., the answer is probably yes. For those who telecommute full-time, living in a sunny location such as the Caribbean or Mexico may be appealing. Although the number of full-time telecommuters is small, it does not take a great deal of expatriates in foreign countries (relative to the size of the U.S. market) to create significant demand for foreign real estate.
Take: Moderate Effect
If you could work anywhere in the world, where would it be? For many, the answer is likely somewhere outside the U.S. In 2006 more than one million foreign properties were purchased by U.S. residents, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, with regard to telecommuting, the effect should be moderate at best. Although the Internet has opened up numerous opportunities for self-employment, the telecommuting trend still greatly favors part-time telecommuting, which would be inconvenient from most foreign locations, to say the least.
Telecommuting may significantly affect foreign and commercial real estate values
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial real estate has seen several favorable years, even despite the credit problems in the U.S. real estate industry. Backed by record profits, businesses have continued to expand and require additional office space. Businesses, especially publicly-traded ones, are designed to make a profit, which often requires cost-cutting measures. Telecommuting offers businesses the ability to improve employee morale, limit office politics and cut monthly overhead expenses. Does that sound like a trend businesses might continue to encourage?
Take: Moderate to Massive Effect
As technology improves, it makes sense that many, if not most, businesses will elect to have a greater number of employees work from home. That could mean slightly reduced demand for commercial space or it could mean significantly reduced demand. Even if employees come into the office two days a week, floating work stations could cut the required office space in half. The only question is how quickly companies can develop an infrastructure for measuring results versus effort (what an employee accomplishes versus how many hours an employee works).
Posted on April 5, 2010 More than 12 million people in the U.S. are telecommuters working from home (or Starbucks) for eight or more hours per week, according to Gartner Dataquest. That’s a 100 percent increase from the six million telecommuters in 2000.
Gartner projects that by 2012, more than 25 percent of U.S. employees will be telecommuters. This represents a dynamic shift in the daily location of millions of people.
Since we are always interested in looking at how demographic changes may shape the real estate market in the future, we’ve evaluated the possible effects of rapid growth in telecommuting on a number of different types of real estate.
Many telecommuters work from home part-time
Urban Real Estate
It is possible that telecommuting could have a negative effect on real estate values in the inner cities of major metropolitan areas. Real estate values are generally higher the closer the real estate is to the downtown area. Visually, this can be seen in the gradual rise in the heights of buildings and structures. One of the main drivers for real estate values in urban locales is the proximity to work locations, since downtown areas typically have a high density of office workers.
Take: Minimal Effect if Any
Those who choose to live in the inner city do so for the urban lifestyle’s culture, entertainment and social activities. Urban living is typically dominated by a younger demographic drawn to the city for reasons other than just being close to the office.
The Suburbs
Telecommuting has the potential to affect the suburbs in both positive and negative ways. It’s reasonable to think that value differentials between inner city real estate and the suburbs, in large part, are representative of the commute factor. With that in mind, it would appear telecommuting could help close the gap between real estate prices in the city and on the outskirts. However, that doesn’t factor in how telecommuting could cause an exodus from the ‘burbs. If you could work from anywhere, would you still choose to live in the suburbs?
Take: Minimal Effect if Any
Judging telecommuting’s future effect on suburban markets is difficult. For one, it appears that most telecommuting is done part-time—one or two days per week, for example. This would still seem to leave enough commuting time to maintain the value gap between homes closer in to the city versus further out. Second, even if commuting becomes less of a factor in real estate prices, there will still be favored communities because of the desirability of specific neighborhoods and access to amenities. In other words, not all suburbs are equal. Ultimately, we think that face-to-face office collaboration will still be frequent enough to keep the effects of telecommuting to a minimum, but perhaps an expanded office or built-in bookcase could add a few more dollars to the value of your home.
Winter Bird Properties
Winter bird areas may benefit from baby boomer telecommuting
The baby boomer’s dream: spend the winters in a sunny location and the summers at home near the grandkids. This scenario, combined with increased telecommuting, could dramatically expand the market for winter bird properties. The U.S. population is aging: 24 percent of the workforce—38 million people—will be over the age of 55 by 2017, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Only 36 percent of adults aged 41 to 54 expect to retire on time, according to a 2005 Harris Interactive study, because of a lack of savings and extended life expectancies. Telecommuting would seem like an ideal way for many baby boomers to continue to work but achieve some form of a retirement lifestyle.
Take: Moderate Effect
We think that the winter bird phenomenon is more than just an aberration; it’s a trend. Unfortunately, we’re not so sure there is a real investor advantage in getting into these markets right now. The five most overbuilt markets in the U.S. include two cities in the desert and three in Florida. It looks like winter bird markets are already receiving plenty of attention.
Foreign Real Estate
Could telecommuting affect the prices of foreign real estate? In many locations close to the U.S., the answer is probably yes. For those who telecommute full-time, living in a sunny location such as the Caribbean or Mexico may be appealing. Although the number of full-time telecommuters is small, it does not take a great deal of expatriates in foreign countries (relative to the size of the U.S. market) to create significant demand for foreign real estate.
Take: Moderate Effect
If you could work anywhere in the world, where would it be? For many, the answer is likely somewhere outside the U.S. In 2006 more than one million foreign properties were purchased by U.S. residents, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, with regard to telecommuting, the effect should be moderate at best. Although the Internet has opened up numerous opportunities for self-employment, the telecommuting trend still greatly favors part-time telecommuting, which would be inconvenient from most foreign locations, to say the least.
Telecommuting may significantly affect foreign and commercial real estate values
Commercial Real Estate
Commercial real estate has seen several favorable years, even despite the credit problems in the U.S. real estate industry. Backed by record profits, businesses have continued to expand and require additional office space. Businesses, especially publicly-traded ones, are designed to make a profit, which often requires cost-cutting measures. Telecommuting offers businesses the ability to improve employee morale, limit office politics and cut monthly overhead expenses. Does that sound like a trend businesses might continue to encourage?
Take: Moderate to Massive Effect
As technology improves, it makes sense that many, if not most, businesses will elect to have a greater number of employees work from home. That could mean slightly reduced demand for commercial space or it could mean significantly reduced demand. Even if employees come into the office two days a week, floating work stations could cut the required office space in half. The only question is how quickly companies can develop an infrastructure for measuring results versus effort (what an employee accomplishes versus how many hours an employee works).
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