While it isn’t exactly new technology, remote server access and VOIP phones are now making it possible for most workers to be virtual workers at a very low cost. Such measures not only reduce office costs by reducing the amount of energy use that your worker is using, but reduce carbon costs by discouraging the use of cars to commute every day. How can a standard organization introduce telecommuting into the organization without losing productivity?

1.  Introduce Time-Tracking and Other Metrics

You can ask your telecommuting employees to keep a log of their activities during the day, as well as a set of measurable goals to achieve within a certain period of time. Consistent excellent performance can allow them to increase or keep their telecommuting hours.

2.  Rotate Telecommuting Equally In a Department

Ensure that each employee in a department has an opportunity to telecommute with a rotating schedule. If you are tentative about introducing telecommuting, do so only one day a week per employee. Then step it up if you feel that your results are improving company-wide.

3.  Balance With In-Office Time

Even the most productive telecommuters require a little face time. While a good case could be made for allowing highly productive individuals to work from home all the time, the reality is that they need to consult with colleagues and management over a little more than instant messenger in order to feel like they are a part of a cohesive whole. At least a couple of days a week should be spent in-house in order to keep everyone pulling together.

4.  Educate Family

If your new telecommuter finds themselves being considered to be a built-in babysitter because they are at home, the office is a better spot for them unless spouses can be educated to understand that telecommuting doesn’t mean “time off”. A new telecommuting program introduction should include an information packet for families so that they are told in an impartial third-party manner that the employee should be considered “off-limits” when working. Daycare should be explored if you have young children when telecommuting.

This report from Berkeley argues that telecommuting leads to increased productivity and improves employee quality of life. The side benefit of helping the environment is why we are writing about it here, but we can all agree that increased productivity is exactly what most businesses need right now. Not to mention the short-term economic savings for your employees in gas and food costs, which can be a great help to any household during a recession.

Thoughts or experiences with telecommuting?  Post them in our comments section!

Tags: telecommute, telecommute employment, telecommute environment, telecommute jobs, telecommute work from home

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