By , Scott Langdon
Published May 03, 2016
Over the last decade workplace norms have changed dramatically, particularly in regards to telecommuting. Thanks in part to technological advancements and the entrance of millennials into the workforce, more and more people are working from home -- employee telecommuting grew by 80 percent from 2005 to 2012, according to a Global Workplace Analytics report.
In light of this trend, how you shape your company’s telecommuting policy is brought to the forefront. Allowing employees to telecommute can be a great decision, but it’s not always the best move for your company.
Before diving into the pluses and minuses, it’s important to first understand that while telecommuting usually refers to employees who work exclusively at home, it also encompasses those who work half of the time at home and half of the time in the office.
Related: 4 Reasons Telecommuting Is Good for Employees and Better for the Company
Related: 4 Reasons Telecommuting Can Be Bad for Business
To test how telecommuting impacts its employees Ctrip, China’s largest travel agency, conducted an experiment. About 250 employees volunteered for the study. Half were randomly assigned to work at home while the other half worked in the office.
After nine months, working from home proved to have some obvious benefits. Those who did so worked an average of 9.5 percent longer than their colleagues working in the office, were 13 percent more productive and were half as likely to quit. What’s more, Ctrip saved an annual $2,000 per employee in office costs.
But there were also downsides. Telecommuters were only half as likely to get promoted, and at the end of the experiment, 50 percent of the work-from-home group asked to return to the office, citing loneliness and the fear of getting overlooked for career advancement opportunities.
The above example is just one of many. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see how telecommuting can impact employees. Based on the study, it appears that a combination of working from home and working in the office is the sweet spot where most employees can find success. It’s completely up to you, however, to determine if this approach will work for your company.
It’s also worth noting that if you want to implement a successful work-from-home system, you’ll need the right technology and have a strategy in place.
Keep in mind that certain positions are better suited for telecommuting. As a rule of thumb, positions that don’t require a large amount of collaboration or technology support, such as sales, are typically well-suited for a work-from-home policy. Manager, public relations, and even IT positions, on the other hand, may require face-to-face interaction.
Related: The Top 5 Best TV Bosses (and What Makes Them So Great)
What do you think? Do you have experience making the decision to let employees telecommute, or do you telecommute at your current job? Let us know your story and your thoughts in the comment section below.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/should-you-let-your-employees-telecommute