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
Friday, April 30, 2010
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).
Officials tout telecommuting
Officials tout telecommuting
Apr 05, 2010 (News and Messenger - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- On Friday, Bob Fenlason sat in his office cubicle dressed in a polo shirt, shorts and a pair of Sperry Topsiders shoes. Instead of his downtown Washington office at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fenalson spends his Fridays at the Woodbridge Telework Center, where he authors project reports and files them remotely.
Monday through Thursday, Fenalson spends his time in meetings, talking face to face with coworkers as they manage a project in Ohio. Today, from a cubicle complete with a computer, a phone and a window with a view to the world outside, he enjoys the quiet focus and conveniences the telework center provides.
"Getting up at 8:30 in the morning is much better than getting up at 4:30 in the morning," said Fenlason, who lives in Woodbridge.
He was one of a handful of people who chose to work from the center Friday, and was there when Rep. Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly dropped by to discuss the importance of telecommuting. The legislator is sponsoring a bill that would require all federal agencies to allow their workers to work at least 20 hours a week remotely.
"What's hindering teleworking is mentality," said Connolly. "We have to change the management mentality that says 'If I can't see you here at the office, then you must be at home watching soap operas.' " The Woodbridge center on Minnieville Road has 16 cubicles identical to the one Fenalson uses. They're rented to federal employees--through their agencies--for $72 a day. Many users bring their own PDAs or Smart Phones, and their own laptop computers. Users can access files remotely at computer servers provided to them through their agencies.
In recent years, the number of users has grown.
"When I came here four years ago, we had about 55 percent capacity, and now the center is at 89 percent capacity and growing," said Robert H. Wilson, the center's executive director.
As telecommuting catches on, many more private companies and federal agencies are allowing more workers to spend more time in centers and less time in the actual office. "Hoteling" workers, as it's called, is designed to save companies money by not having to operate a full working office.
The center keeps would-be commuters off area roads and inside Prince William County, where an estimated 65 percent of residents work elsewhere. Keeping workers inside the county also stimulates the local economy, said Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce President Laurie C. Weider.
Federal employee Janice Grant still drives to Reston four days a week, but she spends Friday at the telework center. While she could do most of what she does from her home, she opts to use the center because of its professional environment.
"When it comes to working remotely, you have to know yourself and know what you're capable of. If I was at home, I could get distracted and go do a load of laundry, or get involved with something at the house. Because the government is paying me for eight hours worth of work, I'm going to give them eight hours of solid work," said Grant.
Introduced March 25, Connolly's bill now sits in committee awaiting Congressional review.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
Apr 05, 2010 (News and Messenger - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- WOODBRIDGE, Va. -- On Friday, Bob Fenlason sat in his office cubicle dressed in a polo shirt, shorts and a pair of Sperry Topsiders shoes. Instead of his downtown Washington office at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fenalson spends his Fridays at the Woodbridge Telework Center, where he authors project reports and files them remotely.
Monday through Thursday, Fenalson spends his time in meetings, talking face to face with coworkers as they manage a project in Ohio. Today, from a cubicle complete with a computer, a phone and a window with a view to the world outside, he enjoys the quiet focus and conveniences the telework center provides.
"Getting up at 8:30 in the morning is much better than getting up at 4:30 in the morning," said Fenlason, who lives in Woodbridge.
He was one of a handful of people who chose to work from the center Friday, and was there when Rep. Gerald E. "Gerry" Connolly dropped by to discuss the importance of telecommuting. The legislator is sponsoring a bill that would require all federal agencies to allow their workers to work at least 20 hours a week remotely.
"What's hindering teleworking is mentality," said Connolly. "We have to change the management mentality that says 'If I can't see you here at the office, then you must be at home watching soap operas.' " The Woodbridge center on Minnieville Road has 16 cubicles identical to the one Fenalson uses. They're rented to federal employees--through their agencies--for $72 a day. Many users bring their own PDAs or Smart Phones, and their own laptop computers. Users can access files remotely at computer servers provided to them through their agencies.
In recent years, the number of users has grown.
"When I came here four years ago, we had about 55 percent capacity, and now the center is at 89 percent capacity and growing," said Robert H. Wilson, the center's executive director.
As telecommuting catches on, many more private companies and federal agencies are allowing more workers to spend more time in centers and less time in the actual office. "Hoteling" workers, as it's called, is designed to save companies money by not having to operate a full working office.
The center keeps would-be commuters off area roads and inside Prince William County, where an estimated 65 percent of residents work elsewhere. Keeping workers inside the county also stimulates the local economy, said Prince William Regional Chamber of Commerce President Laurie C. Weider.
Federal employee Janice Grant still drives to Reston four days a week, but she spends Friday at the telework center. While she could do most of what she does from her home, she opts to use the center because of its professional environment.
"When it comes to working remotely, you have to know yourself and know what you're capable of. If I was at home, I could get distracted and go do a load of laundry, or get involved with something at the house. Because the government is paying me for eight hours worth of work, I'm going to give them eight hours of solid work," said Grant.
Introduced March 25, Connolly's bill now sits in committee awaiting Congressional review.
Staff writer Uriah A. Kiser can be reached at 703-878-8065.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Obama wants teleworker expansion
Obama wants teleworker expansion
By Vicki Needham - 03/31/10 06:35 PM ET
The federal government could avoid shutting down if more workers had the option to telecommute, President Barack Obama said Wednesday.
Obama made the remark during a forum on Workplace Flexibility today at the White House, where CEOs, small business owners and other labor experts will discuss ways to help working parents. Much of the discussion centered around helping working women with families.
John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, outlined a pilot program for 400 of his employees to jump start a broader telecommuting practice throughout the federal government.
If it works, Berry said it "will become the cornerstone in our efforts to make the federal government the model employer for the 21st century, as well as meet the president's challenge to make government cool again."
Obama, who is frequently seen with a mobile e-mail device in hand, said among other things, "where new technology can help, we'll find a secure, cost-effective way to install it."
In 2008, 21 of 78 federal agencies responded that they had established or increased budget for technology expenditures to deal with security and other issues for teleworkers, according to an August 2009 OPM report.
Overall, fewer than 9 percent of the eligible federal workers were telecommuting in 2008, the report said.
The president concluded by saying, "work is what you do, not where you are."
By Vicki Needham - 03/31/10 06:35 PM ET
The federal government could avoid shutting down if more workers had the option to telecommute, President Barack Obama said Wednesday.
Obama made the remark during a forum on Workplace Flexibility today at the White House, where CEOs, small business owners and other labor experts will discuss ways to help working parents. Much of the discussion centered around helping working women with families.
John Berry, director of the Office of Personnel Management, outlined a pilot program for 400 of his employees to jump start a broader telecommuting practice throughout the federal government.
If it works, Berry said it "will become the cornerstone in our efforts to make the federal government the model employer for the 21st century, as well as meet the president's challenge to make government cool again."
Obama, who is frequently seen with a mobile e-mail device in hand, said among other things, "where new technology can help, we'll find a secure, cost-effective way to install it."
In 2008, 21 of 78 federal agencies responded that they had established or increased budget for technology expenditures to deal with security and other issues for teleworkers, according to an August 2009 OPM report.
Overall, fewer than 9 percent of the eligible federal workers were telecommuting in 2008, the report said.
The president concluded by saying, "work is what you do, not where you are."
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