How Telecommuting is Re-Shaping the Workplace

Telecommuting Jobs or working from home is now more than ever before on the rise. And, it is re-shaping what we think of as the workplace. More organizations are seeing the benefits of letting their employees work from home, even if it is just occasionally. The current rise has also been thought to have come from tight budgets and a slow economy.



So why else are we seeing this sudden rise of telecommuting? What are the benefits of this type of work? And, how is it reshaping the workplace?



Telecommuting saves money for companies. Most telecommuters have to invest in their own work equipment such as cell phones, laptops and other transcribing equipment and software. Also, most employers consider telecommuters as freelance, so they dont have to pay health insurance or disability benefits. Full time telework can save companies approximately $20,000 per employee.



You can work anywhere. Having the ability to work from home, on vacation, in a coffee shop, at a friends house can lead to more productivity. It means, I can take my work with me wherever. This means less restrictions on time unless personally set by the telecommuter.



Increased productivity. As mentioned before, the ability to work wherever whenever can boost productivity. Also, the feeling of not being confined in an office can lead to more creativity and excitement about job.



Flexible schedule. Telecommuting offers a flexible schedule. Work can be arranged around family and other obligations. It can be done at the time that is best for you.



Dress code. Working from home means the ability to wear whatever youd like. You dont need to report to the office everyday so you can wear what youd like to give you some freedom.



Environmentally friendly. Telecommuting is good for social issues such as reducing traffic, stress and pollution. If air quality is bad in a certain area, telecommuting can be a good thing in order to reduce vehicle travel.



Employee Satisfaction. Telework flexibility is a desirable prerequisite for those looking for jobs these days. Many consider the ability to work from home a huge incentive when looking for a job.



With all of the benefits of telecommuting like saving money, good on the environment, makes employees happy, and increased productivity there are some concerns and skepticism of telecommuting. A few of these are:



Fear of loss of control as employees are given more freedom.



The view that it is a complement to the workplace rather than a substitute.



Distrust from employers and disconnectedness from employee.



Just like anything, it takes a little more effort to communicate from a distance. A face to face environment usually causes less confusion. However, this sudden rise in telecommuting is for a good reason.



More companies are getting comfortable with the fact that employees enjoy the freedom to work from home whether part-time or full-time. Eventually, employers have to weigh the benefits to concerns and decide what is best for their business.

About the Author

Sarah Edison is an office space expert at Elite Business Centres. Elite specializes in providing Vancouver virtual offices and executive offices. You can learn more about their services by visiting their website at http://www.eliteoffices.com

The Benefits of Co-Working From a Business Point of View

Co-Working is a global movement of localized mobile/remote worker communities coming together to share their otherwise independent work experiences. It is a growing trend in today's changing workplace.



It seems that more and more, we hear about businesses that start up from group collaboration. If you currently are a remote worker or an independent here are some facts about co-working and why it is beneficial from a business point of view.



Why is Co-working Beneficial?



Sharing resources can be very helpful. Most people dont want to pay for their own office space. The ability to share the costs of typical office amenities is a benefit. You can share the cost of equipment so you are able to afford what you need for your business. And dont forget sharing ideas as a helpful resource. When you have a diverse set of human skills it can open up project ideas and opportunities. , who knows what you could come up with when you come together with other creative, independent, motivated thinkers.



Helps to create a healthy work life balance. There might be more work to do than you are able to fit into a 40 hour work week, and working overtime is not healthy. Maybe you need some help. With a co-working environment you dont have to feel as pressured or stressed out to work around the clock to achieve what you need to get done. Enough sleep and relaxation is really important from a business perspective.



Whats going on in your region? Sometimes you have no idea whats going on in your own backyard unless you cross pollinated and interact with others from the community. Co-working allows for this sort of healthy interaction to happen every day. Theres a lot of benefit to knowing whats going amon in your community. Also, from an economic development standpoint co-working can lead to richer community activity and more visibility to the rest of the world.



Improve your smarts. In a co-working space theres accelerated learning that occurs. Everyone comes for a slightly different purpose but has some goal in common. As the days progress, different topics come up and inevitably theres an off-topic thread. You automatically begin learning new things.



Its important to feel motivated. Theres something really great about working at a co-working space. When you are surrounded by other hard working people, it amps up your productivity and creativity.



Getting out. In a co-working environment, you can get a lot done. Getting out of the house is healthy, and co-working forces you to do just that. Many business centers in major cities offer office facilities to facilitate co-working and not break the budget.



Where Can I Find More Information About Co-Working?



When working independently you may run into many questions or problems, but if you have help from co-workers you will be able to solve most of these. From a business perspective this saves a lot of time and money.

About the Author

Sarah Edison is an office space expert at Elite Business Centres. Elite specializes in providing Vancouver virtual offices and executive offices. You can learn more about their services by visiting their website at http://www.eliteoffices.com