Comments on: Challenging Telework Myths http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/ Rebooting the workforce Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:43:24 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Michael Harrison http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-189465 Michael Harrison Fri, 05 Oct 2007 03:35:33 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-189465 Myth: "People working from home only get paid for actual productive work hours" Reality: "People working from home only get paid for the hours they bill, regardless of if they were eating bonbons all day" Myth: “People working from home only get paid for actual productive work hours”
Reality: “People working from home only get paid for the hours they bill, regardless of if they were eating bonbons all day”

]]> By: Richard Grunburg http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187871 Richard Grunburg Tue, 02 Oct 2007 18:34:37 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187871 Mike, Another good one on this important issue of stopping the madness of the 5 day commute. As you know, mostly middle managers let these myths determine whether or not an organization should consider leveraging an Alternate Work Arrangement/ Distributed Work Force model. I recommend a book for all those EMPLOYERS out there who are hesitant or even resistant to employing a distributed work force model or a Managed Telecommute program at their company; Corporate Agility by Jim Ware and Charlie Grantham. We, our collective society, needs a smarter way to solve the many issues facing our current model of the 5 day commute as the norm. The impact of today's commuter model is just too costly (Lost Productivity, Infrastructure demands on our cities and roads, Business Continuity, Work Life Balance, Employee acquisition and retention, Carbon Emissions reduction, etc....). I'm curious if people reading think they would support TAX incentives and or even penalties (tolls like in London), to encourage less traditional commuting? My personal belief is this is inevitable eventually but to accelerate adoption, is desperately needed. Productivity can be managed, workers can collaborate, culture can be deep and wide in or out of the office. Lets break down the barriers and dispel the myths..... Thanks for reading and thanks again for another solid posting on this issue, Mike. -Richard Mike,

Another good one on this important issue of stopping the madness of the 5 day commute. As you know, mostly middle managers let these myths determine whether or not an organization should consider leveraging an Alternate Work Arrangement/ Distributed Work Force model.

I recommend a book for all those EMPLOYERS out there who are hesitant or even resistant to employing a distributed work force model or a Managed Telecommute program at their company; Corporate Agility by Jim Ware and Charlie Grantham.

We, our collective society, needs a smarter way to solve the many issues facing our current model of the 5 day commute as the norm. The impact of today’s commuter model is just too costly (Lost Productivity, Infrastructure demands on our cities and roads, Business Continuity, Work Life Balance, Employee acquisition and retention, Carbon Emissions reduction, etc….).

I’m curious if people reading think they would support TAX incentives and or even penalties (tolls like in London), to encourage less traditional commuting? My personal belief is this is inevitable eventually but to accelerate adoption, is desperately needed.

Productivity can be managed, workers can collaborate, culture can be deep and wide in or out of the office. Lets break down the barriers and dispel the myths…..

Thanks for reading and thanks again for another solid posting on this issue, Mike.

-Richard

]]> By: jeremy http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187786 jeremy Tue, 02 Oct 2007 14:21:40 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187786 For creatives there's a lot of stigma that you won't be able to hash out ideas in any sort of "office think tank", though I find it much easier to have good creative ideas when I'm in the comfort of my own settings. Plus it promotes sketching which is something any good creative should know how to do, it saves time and money all around. For creatives there’s a lot of stigma that you won’t be able to hash out ideas in any sort of “office think tank”, though I find it much easier to have good creative ideas when I’m in the comfort of my own settings. Plus it promotes sketching which is something any good creative should know how to do, it saves time and money all around.

]]> By: Jesse Middleton http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187775 Jesse Middleton Tue, 02 Oct 2007 13:56:34 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187775 Myth: When multiple people in a company telework, it seems like their jobs are easier to outsource. Reality: I feel that it's just the opposite. The fact that I am able to work from home on projects far more efficiently than when I'm at the office (no interruptions, less distraction to take me to grab another</strong> cup of coffee, an envrionment that I know won't get <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5S_%28methodology%29" rel="nofollow">5S'd</a>) proves that my skill is required to do my job. It's not like I'm answering helpdesk calls all day (that I could do from anywhere as well) but I need the time away from the office to focus on the work that my company needs done. Myth: When multiple people in a company telework, it seems like their jobs are easier to outsource.

Reality: I feel that it’s just the opposite. The fact that I am able to work from home on projects far more efficiently than when I’m at the office (no interruptions, less distraction to take me to grab another cup of coffee, an envrionment that I know won’t get 5S’d) proves that my skill is required to do my job. It’s not like I’m answering helpdesk calls all day (that I could do from anywhere as well) but I need the time away from the office to focus on the work that my company needs done.

]]> By: Scott http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187381 Scott Tue, 02 Oct 2007 00:22:18 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187381 You need to do a similar write up for those managers in the Federal Government that are too afraid of "losing control" of their employees and think that the teleworkers will not get their job done because they're not in the office and they can't see them. You should send your write up as to how it will save the American tax payers money to Federal Computer Week, Government Computer News, and Government Executive magazines so they get on the desks of managers. It would be interested to see how much money the government would save by setting up "x"% of employees in a dedicated teleworking program and not just "oh, John Doe can work from home in cases of emergency but must always come to work...he's a telecommuter" mentality that most managers have. You need to do a similar write up for those managers in the Federal Government that are too afraid of “losing control” of their employees and think that the teleworkers will not get their job done because they’re not in the office and they can’t see them. You should send your write up as to how it will save the American tax payers money to Federal Computer Week, Government Computer News, and Government Executive magazines so they get on the desks of managers. It would be interested to see how much money the government would save by setting up “x”% of employees in a dedicated teleworking program and not just “oh, John Doe can work from home in cases of emergency but must always come to work…he’s a telecommuter” mentality that most managers have.

]]> By: Eric http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187301 Eric Mon, 01 Oct 2007 21:44:26 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187301 Mike - No, I totally agree. Just got a lot of "you just sat on the computer all day" stuff. Mike –

No, I totally agree. Just got a lot of “you just sat on the computer all day” stuff.

]]> By: Mike Gunderloy http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187240 Mike Gunderloy Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:27:50 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187240 Eric - let me apologize for the flippant tone in that point; sorry if it offended you. But I think it's fair to say that anyone in IT ought to be taking a broad view of security these days, and that setting up reasonable security for telecommuting doesn't have to be a huge barrier to a successful telecommuting effort. I've been in your shoes too, so I'm sensitive to the fact that IT are often among the unsung heroes of the organization - a piece to be written another day! Eric – let me apologize for the flippant tone in that point; sorry if it offended you. But I think it’s fair to say that anyone in IT ought to be taking a broad view of security these days, and that setting up reasonable security for telecommuting doesn’t have to be a huge barrier to a successful telecommuting effort. I’ve been in your shoes too, so I’m sensitive to the fact that IT are often among the unsung heroes of the organization – a piece to be written another day!

]]> By: mathew johnson http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187233 mathew johnson Mon, 01 Oct 2007 19:01:08 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187233 did everyone see the wsj top small workplaces article today - particularly point b solutions with an interesting semi-freelance model? <a href="http://www.blist.com/blog/index.php/2007/10/01/top-small-workplaces-2007/" rel="nofollow">http://www.blist.com/blog/index.php/2007/10/01/top-small-workplaces-2007/</a> did everyone see the wsj top small workplaces article today – particularly point b solutions with an interesting semi-freelance model?

http://www.blist.com/blog/index.php/2007/10/01/top-small-workplaces-2007/

]]> By: Eric http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187231 Eric Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:54:41 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187231 should says, "As someone who works in IT and at home, I semi resent..." should says, “As someone who works in IT and at home, I semi resent…”

]]> By: Eric http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187230 Eric Mon, 01 Oct 2007 18:54:08 +0000 http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/10/01/challenging-telework-myths/#comment-187230 "IT may have to learn some new tricks, but that’s what you pay them for." As someone who I semi resent that statement. Learning new tricks in IT is often a big hassle to work into daily stuff, and doesn't usually lead to a raise, as IT operations generally go unnoticed or unappreciated by the higher ups. It's not like free lance work, were new tricks can automatically be added to the list and charged for. Plus, making an IT person job harder than it is, while you reap the rewards and work at home quickly leads to you being "that" guy. “IT may have to learn some new tricks, but that’s what you pay them for.”

As someone who I semi resent that statement. Learning new tricks in IT is often a big hassle to work into daily stuff, and doesn’t usually lead to a raise, as IT operations generally go unnoticed or unappreciated by the higher ups.

It’s not like free lance work, were new tricks can automatically be added to the list and charged for. Plus, making an IT person job harder than it is, while you reap the rewards and work at home quickly leads to you being “that” guy.

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