The Washington Post
WASHINGTON — Misperceptions of telecommuting abound. In fact, few "telecommuters" actually work from home full time.
According to the International Telework Association’s survey this year, the typical teleworker works at least one full day, but not every day, each week away from the office. Telecommuting is concentrated in the busy cities of the northeastern or western regions of the United States.
The average telecommuter has a college education, is 35 to 44 years old and married. Teleworking is usually found at either a very small or a very large company. Most teleworkers are in managerial or sales positions and earn $40,000 or more annually. Teleworking is most common in real estate, among department heads and in information industries.
Costs depend on the organization. If a company is concerned about security and confidentiality, it usually will provide the computer and secure Internet connection. Most organizations pick up the tab for the connection, which can cost about $20 each month for dial-up service, and $50 to $80 per month for digital subscriber line (DSL) service, in addition to installation.
Even organizations that offer telecommuting programs usually tell employees they must first clear any telecommuting schedule with their direct managers, some of whom would rather have their people in the office. Others feel that not as much work will be done if an employee is at home and perhaps distracted by repairmen, laundry, and other non-work related issues.
Meanwhile, many organizations cannot, by the nature of their work, allow employees to telecommute. If much of the work is centered around face-to-face contact or hands-on work, such as research and biotechnology, a home office will not suffice.
Even though many workers have Internet access at home, technology is not as efficient as it is at the office, unless a home is hooked up to DSL, which has not yet caught on nationwide because of high cost and lack of availability in all areas.
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