What Is Telecommuting?

With all of the hustle and bustle in today's modern workplace, some people have chosen a different path. Those who dread the everyday commute to work and the long hours in a cubicle have turned to telecommuting for the opportunity to work as an independent employee. Telecommuting, also known as e-commuting or e-work, is the term used when individuals take advantage of the many technological advances to work from anywhere they desire, giving themselves flexibility in their hours and work locations.

In today's job market there are endless obstacles that must be overcome in order to find a good job. Many skilled workers who do not live in an area where their preferred business is prevalent will oftentimes be required to move or take jobs outside of their market. Telecommuting has allowed for decentralization from the traditional workplace and enabled individuals to work where they choose. These opportunities are great for one-parent homes or homes where only one parent is able to work. Telecommunication also allows anyone with physical obstacles the ease of working from home. Some workplaces make it difficult for a handicapped person to travel to work easily and telecommuting gives those individuals the security they need to be able to earn a living.

In the past, becoming a telecommuter proved difficult due to the lack of technology and workloads. Nowadays it is easier than ever to become a telecommuter because of the vast technologies available that make working from home easier and more convenient. Telecommuting is simpler now with the use of tools such as wireless Internet, videoconferencing, and Broadband phones, which have steadily become cheaper to get and more efficiently made. These tools allow for constant contact with businesses, making it possible to work anytime of day. Since telecommuters do not work from an office, they are able to choose their work hours and can work from virtually anywhere in the world.

Other individuals outside of the business sector are looking to telecommuting in a non-business manner and are encouraging this type of work in hopes of bettering the condition of the environment. Telecommuting greatly decreases the amount of motorists on the road, therefore decreasing the amount of pollution in the air. Since 1996, telecommuters have been in conjunction with the government after the passing of the Clean Air Act that encourages car pools, more use of buses and subways, as well as telecommunication.

Although the field is more convenient and flexible, not everyone is meant to be a telecommuter. Individuals who choose this field are often their own supervisors and have to depend on themselves to get their work completed correctly and on time. There usually is not anyone there to observe their work or encourage them to work a certain way. Telecommuters must have an independent nature and be able to work well under strict time constraints, due to the usual large workload.

Of course, there are some disadvantages to telecommuting rather than working in the traditional way. For one, many telecommuters receive significantly larger workloads than employees working in an office due to their lack of time constraints. There are often various distractions that can hinder a telecommuter from getting work done, whether they are family or other daily duties. Also, the lack of a managerial figure can sometimes make it difficult for telecommuters to clearly define their objectives and job duties.

The European Trade Union Confederation has published a pamphlet that spells out the basic requirements and expectations of a telecommuter. This pamphlet has become the go-to guide for an accurate description of the telecommuting field and covers all areas, including health and safety, training, rights, and privacy. However, no official organization has been set up for telecommuters in the U.S., therefore some individuals may be more hesitant to join the field due to lack of rights and benefits. Although the field of telecommunication is growing in prevalence and has endless perks, some people are still wary of the legitimacy of the profession. In years to come, the U.S. government will likely need to step in and set up an organization geared toward establishing telecommunication as a legitimate profession and providing individuals with more protection.