Progressions in telecommunications technology have enabled the practice of telecommuting,which means workers can conduct their assigned tasks without having to commute back and forth to work regularly.This emerging working pattern has profound implications on our work and life.Some assert that only workers,not the employers,can be beneficiaries of telecommuting.Personally,I cannot go along with their view.
Granted,telecommuting can bestow numerous benefits upon the employees123 begin with,employees do not have to live with the constant fear that their boss may look over their shoulders,as their work is supervised from far away and in more laissez faire fashions.There is no need for them to get super well-groomed and they can "slack off" a bit when the work-induced stress is too intense to bear.They can even do aerobics or take showers to refresh themselves provided they can meet the deadline set by their bosses.Furthermore,telecommuting can spare workers the everyday chore of traveling back and forth to work.And this,in turn,helps them to cut down on costs of bus fare,fuel or extravagant work clothes.Lastly,telecommuters can dedicate far more time to their spouse and offspring than office-bound workers.This can,doubtless,strengthen their family ties or may even salvage dysfunctional households.
Yet it would be erroneous if we fail to ackowledge the advantages telecommuting can confer on the employers.In the first place,less constraints,less peer pressure at work,no office politics and more flexible schedules can boost employee morale and enhance productivity.Empirical evidence abounds in this respect that more occupational freedom can,more often than not,lead to stronger vocational motivation and more innovative ideas.Hence,employers may well be better off not keeping tabs on their workers nine to five every weekday.In the second place telecommuting work force can help business-owners substantially curtail the overhead costs,such as the costs of rent and utilities.Thirdly,the fact that workers can telecommute via the worldwide communications network allows employers to recruit people from remote locations or even half way around the globe,thereby markedly augmenting the labor pool of businesses.Last but not least,employers will not be plagued by petty concerns such as absenteeism and excessive sick leaves anymore if workers telecommute.
To conclude,I concede that telecommuting can bring about a variety of boons to employees.However,it would be unjustifiable if we overlooked the advantages telecommuting can spawn on the employers' side.And we should strive to seek out the most effective approach to exploit this win-win situation.