| Wilsker: There are people who miss the social interaction of going to work every day. They don’t think about the solitude of working from home. |
| Glaser: The expectation is that you have more control at home, but in some cases you don’t. You might have a spouse that also wants time, or other distractions that you wouldn’t have at the office. |
| Laermer: I don’t think people realize how dangerous it can be to work at home. Out of sight can mean out of mind, and it can seriously damage your opportunities for advancement. |
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| Q: What are the must-have tools for employees who wish to telecommute successfully? |
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| Glaser: A computer is unbelievably important. A BlackBerry and a Palm. And you need a dedicated place to work. If your workspace falls too much into the world of the rest of your house, that will insidiously eat away at you and not allow you to meet your schedules. |
| Wilsker: In addition to the technology, you need a telecommuting agreement. You need to spell out the arrangement and the expectations, including deliverables, how the working arrangement will proceed and even what will happen if the individual’s position is terminated. |
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| Q: Bottom line: What’s the most important thing that employees need to know about telecommuting before doing so? |
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| Laermer: Working from home doesn’t mean not working. It means working at or above the pace that’s expected of you. Don’t think that people aren’t paying attention to you because you’re not there. |
| Glaser: Set the right tools, keep communicating and do what’s expected of you. If you do it right, you’ll still be an integral part of the team at home. |
| Wilsker: Telecommuting for an employer is a privilege, not a right. Employees need to be prepared to handle problems on their own and fix them. |
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| Join the conversation by e-mailing special.sections@newsweek.com. |
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Related Articles:
Telecommuting: The House Rules
When Life Gives You Blackberries, Make Jam
All The World's A Change |
