Advantages and disadvantages of teleworking

What is telework?

Etymologically, teleworking is working from a distance, the distance prefix meaning "away".
It is therefore of any work that is performed outside the traditional places of work, whether on a full time or part-time.
Telecommuting is performed by an employee of the company, often with the means of the company, but not in the company premises.
Generally, telework is done at home, but it can also be done on the road, in satellite offices or shared offices.
According to recent polls, over two-thirds of Canadians would like to work from home.

Telecommuting may be an option, but is it right for your job for you?

We must be aware that not all types of jobs that offer telecommuting, consider your job and determine if some of your tasks would be executed outside of your workplace and of course whether your employer is open to the idea of ​​telecommuting.

Companies that offer this option

Sico, Nortel, IBM Canada, Dupont, Bell Canada, Bank of Canada, the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec, to name a few, have initiated a breakthrough in the world of telecommuting and welcome their decision.

Employer Benefits

It is estimated that telework increases efficiency by 12%, 25% of productivity and employee retention by 18%. It saves $ 8,000 per employee per year and reduces space requirements by 30%. According to experts, telecommuting will fundamentally transform the management of human resources within companies. The phenomenon may become exponential.

Advantages and disadvantages for the employee

The vast majority of people who practice telecommuting full-time or part-time would not return to traditional work even if offered a promotion. If the increase in productivity and increased motivation are the lucky among employers, they also have a direct impact on employee satisfaction to their work and their overall health. The benefits include:

- A reduction in stress
Telecommuting overcomes many irritating aspects: travel time, traffic at peak hours, race to pick up the kids or preparing meals, etc.. The teleworker is less likely to develop harmful stress;

- A reduction in spending
Telecommuting saves on the cost of gas or transportation, meals on the outside and on clothing. It also
reduce care costs by allowing the more flexible schedule;

- A better work-life balance, an important issue not only for the employee but for the whole society;

- A framework better suited, both at room temperature, the air quality or lighting;

- Increased openness for jobs that are inaccessible, especially if you are disabled or if you live in remote areas.

In terms of disadvantages, the sense of isolation is probably the most important and is most evident in those who perform
telework on a permanent basis. Therefore it is important to know each other before embarking on this adventure