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

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