Comments on: Soaring fuel prices push telecommuting trend — for now

By: aullman

aullman — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 21:55:33 +0000

One of the main reasons that telecommuting efforts have failed in the past is because employers simply gave employees a VPN and a laptop, and told them they could work from home. They did not provide anything else in way of support, facilities or infrastructure. This was not an effective solution.

Many people actually do work remotely, however they do so from a real office. They work on computer systems that are hosted remotely, and work for a manager located in another office location. These employees do effectively telecommute, but they do so from a real office with real infrastructure. That is why it works.

The best way to make telecommuting work is to focus on employee needs. The needs are: 1. professional grade infrastructure, 2. professional office space, 3. professional phone system. 4. an office separated from distractions around the home.

The solution is to work remotely in a facility that provides the facilities that employees are used to and need.

Remote Office Centers are the perfect solution. Remote Office Centers lease individual offices, internet and phone systems to workers from different companies in shared centers located around the city and suburbs.

Remote Office Centers are fairly new, but can be found in most large cities by doing a web search on “Remote Office Centers” in quotes.

By: Mike

Mike — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 00:48:33 +0000

I took a full-time telecommuting job in 2007 and I am mostly happy with the decision. I meet with my colleagues quarterly for a week of meetings.

I walk somewhere for lunch to get some social contact, and I finally have time to accept invitations from neighbors and friends.

By: Jake

Jake — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 00:49:39 +0000

‘And there’s always fuel-price amnesia, which happens whenever gas prices drop, as they have recently.’

I remember gas under $3 a gallon…

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 16:24:40 +0000

Being a misanthropic curmudgeon, I have not been happy in cubicle land. I finally got a telecommuting job and only have to face my boss, a lawyer, over the phone and maybe twice a month if we overlap when I deliver work. This has not only aided my sanity, but my budget and saves him money, since I don’t have to waste my time in inane co-worker conversations and silly birthday/retirement/shower “celebrations” that always take place on the clock.. The oil companies would hate it, if everyone felt like I do.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:58:31 +0000

Telecommuting would be a dream and will stay a dream for me since my department head is adament none of his people will work from home. Which is too bad since other departments have no problems with it. I come to work to work, not socialize.