Teleworking, also called telecommuting, involves working from home or elsewhere outside of a central workplace. It began in the 1970s when a scientist realized commuting time and stress could be reduced by moving work to employees instead of always moving employees to work. There are four main types of telecommuters including those who work from home, satellite offices, neighborhood offices, or who are mobile workers. Teleworking succeeds when the employee, job, technology, and manager are suited to the arrangement. Successful telework programs are seamless, flexible, fit the organizational culture, and plan for communication and access.

1. Prepared by: Rubina Naz

2. What is telework?
Teleworking is defined broadly as
“working from anywhere at anytime (Kurland and Bailey,
1999)”.
In simple words telework is a method of doing work at
home, or work in a different place from usual
workplace.

3. Telecommuting & Telecommuters
Telecommuting:
The term “telework” is used interchangeably with
“telecommuting” and “virtual work” when referring to
working outside of an organization.
Telecommuters:
Virtual teams of coworkers who are scattered around
the world can be considered teleworkers even if all of
them work within an office.

4. Idea of telecommuting
The idea for telecommuting started in the early 1970s.
A scientist stuck in Los Angeles traffic reasoned that a
good deal of time and stress could be saved by moving
the work to the employee instead of always moving the
employee to the work.

5. Types of telecommuters
There are four main types of telecommuters.
1. First telecommuters who work from their homes.
These telecommuters may have a dedicated home
office space.
2. Second telecommuter is found in satellite offices that
are located outside the home and outside the main
office.

6. Types of telecommuters(Conti…)
3. A third type of telecommuter works in a neighborhood
office.
4. Mobile workers are the final type of telecommuter.

7. Teleworking is Not…
 Always a full time arrangement
 A replacement for child care or dependent care
 Sending people home and never seeing or hearing
from them again
 A benefit
 Work-extension
 Always expensive

8. Teleworking Succeeds When…
 The employee is right
 The job is right
 The technology works
 And the manager
approves of the
arrangement

9. Telemanaging through Goal-
Setting with Employees
 Assist employees in organizing work through on one
meetings prior to teleworking for the first few times
 Assigning work to employees
 Defining objectives and deliverables
 Establishing timeframes
 Reviewing status
 Coaching employees

10. Every Employee is Different
 Directing
 Coaching
 Advising
 Delegating
 Developing trust
 Managing electronically
 Asking questions
 Encouraging
independence

11. Team-Building While
Teleworking
 Keeping the team together
 In-office meetings
 Teleconferencing
 Social activities
 Lunches

12. Planning for Success
 Act on problems as they arise
 Be honest with teleworkers
 Ask for input from coworkers
 Respect the teleworking arrangement
 Integrate a review process
 There is an adjustment period

13. Manager Advantages of
Teleworking
 Positive employee morale
 Increased employee productivity
 Less downtime from weather, traffic
 Increased employee availability
 Broader talent pool for recruiting & access to
expertise
 Reduced absenteeism

14. Employee Advantages
 Increases focus, productivity and work quality;
reduces distractions and interruptions
 Increases flexibility
 Reduces commuting stress, delays, and costs
 Improves morale
 Accommodates work/life balance
 Lower personal costs, e.g., meals, clothing

15. Teleworkers: Getting Organized
 Pick a work location
 Establish a routine
 Replace ritual of getting ready
for office
 Organize work the day before
 Have an end of the day ritual

16. Teleworkers: Managing Your Work
 Maintain contact with coworkers
 Have a system at home
 Stick to deadlines
 Keep your manager informed
 Attend scheduled meetings
 Schedule meetings with coworkers and others

17. Developing Good Habits
and Avoiding Bad Ones
• Pace yourself
• Take breaks
• Plan lunches
• Keep in touch
• Stay productive

18. Successful Telework Programs
Have Certain Characteristics
 There is a transition period!
 Are seamless to the world
 Plan for flexibility and change
 Fit departmental culture
 Plan for access and communication

19. Organizations with Successful
Programs
 GE Energy
 IBM
 Federal Government
 Delta Airlines
 Bank of America
 Home Depot
 Kaiser Permanente
 MetLife
 State of Georgia
 Sun Microsystems
 Cisco
 Hewlett Packard
 Intel
 Solvay Pharmaceuticals
 County of Los Angeles