I've been "telecommuting" since Sept. 30, 2007, when I left my job as an editor at Bobit Business Media. That's not exactly accurate because I started my own business and work from a home office. Even if I wanted to -- and I don't -- I can't commute since I have nowhere to go.
With the price of gas eclipsing $4 a gallon here in Los Angeles, I'm surprised that interest in telecommuting hasn't cropped up again. Was it 10 years ago that telecommuting became fashionable? I seem to recall that people were renting workstations close to their homes so they could telecommute with all the niceties of an office -- computer, fax, phone, etc. Do they still do that?
I never gave a thought to telecommuting because I've always lived pretty close to my office. Well, almost always. For about eight years I had a 90-mile daily commute. It wasn't bad, though, because my start time was 6:30 a.m. and I left the building by 3 p.m. Had it been an 8:30 to 5 shift, I don't think I could have held out for very long.
These days, with all of the conveniences provided by the Internet (high-speed connections, e-mail, video conferencing, file sharing, web-based applications, etc.), it should be much more convenient to work from home. Employers, understandably, will always be leery of allowing their employees to work without face-to-face supervision, but the rising cost of commuting may soon override their reservations.
Speaking from experience, working from home isn't a perfect solution. Even if I could have telecommuted while I was still working at Bobit, I would have only done it two or three times a week, not because I feel a need to look over people's shoulders, but because it gets lonely. Work from home for a few months and you'll see what I mean.
Until next time.
Steve
With the price of gas eclipsing $4 a gallon here in Los Angeles, I'm surprised that interest in telecommuting hasn't cropped up again. Was it 10 years ago that telecommuting became fashionable? I seem to recall that people were renting workstations close to their homes so they could telecommute with all the niceties of an office -- computer, fax, phone, etc. Do they still do that?
I never gave a thought to telecommuting because I've always lived pretty close to my office. Well, almost always. For about eight years I had a 90-mile daily commute. It wasn't bad, though, because my start time was 6:30 a.m. and I left the building by 3 p.m. Had it been an 8:30 to 5 shift, I don't think I could have held out for very long.
These days, with all of the conveniences provided by the Internet (high-speed connections, e-mail, video conferencing, file sharing, web-based applications, etc.), it should be much more convenient to work from home. Employers, understandably, will always be leery of allowing their employees to work without face-to-face supervision, but the rising cost of commuting may soon override their reservations.
Speaking from experience, working from home isn't a perfect solution. Even if I could have telecommuted while I was still working at Bobit, I would have only done it two or three times a week, not because I feel a need to look over people's shoulders, but because it gets lonely. Work from home for a few months and you'll see what I mean.
Until next time.
Steve
I agree with your comments. Collectively we must encourage each other to work from home where ever possible. I believe with the correct safeguards in place it, the concerns some employgers have about productivity could easily be addressed. The impact on the environment be significant. Just think about all those pointless business flights.
Posted by: Ayo | May 28, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Right on. I love public transit, too. Oh, you are very cute, by the way.
Posted by: David | May 30, 2008 at 12:39 PM