More IT work being done from home

A new survey from Robert Half Technology, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based IT employment agency, confirms something most people in the industry already knew: The number of IT employees who telecommute has increased over the past five years.

The primary reason cited for the increase—that is, widely available wireless technologies and feature-rich Internet applications that make it easier for people to work outside the office—should also be no surprise to IT pros.

According to this national poll, which included responses from more than 1,400 CIOs in a random sample of companies with 100-plus employees, the chief benefits of telecommuting are:

• Higher employee retention rates;
• Improved morale; and
• Increased productivity.

“For some, working from home can result in greater productivity because there are fewer interruptions than in the office,” says Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology. Lee also cautions that telecommuting doesn't work in all situations.

“Managers who need face-to-face interaction with staff, or individuals who meet frequently with clients may find working from home hampers their ability to build strong business relationships,” says Lee.

Still, the survey results indicate a majority of CIOs view telecommuting as a viable option for retaining valuable employees. It also appears that CIOs are more confident in their ability to manage remote workers.

Survey results indicate CIOs are more comfortable today with their ability to manage remote workers than they were five years ago.

Lee suggests these questions for establishing effective telecommuting:

• What jobs are best suited to telecommuting? Lee suggests making telecommuting arrangements with individuals whose jobs can be performed with relative autonomy.
• How frequently should employees be allowed to work remotely? Lee suggests scheduling regular project updates on days all employees are on-site.
• How will effective communication between team members be ensured? Keep a schedule of workers' on-site availability, and where and how they can be reached to keep work flowing.

Finally, to avoid project-related misunderstandings, set expectations up-front about who can telecommute, and how often.