In the contemporary times, the world has continued to witness development in many aspects that result from technological advancements that have impacted many issues either at the social, political or economic fields. Technological advancements and the concept of globalization has created many opportunities for people in the entire world, and many tasks can be completed related to work from any part of the continent, and any home or office provided they are connected to the internet among other technological equipment that supports such interactions. As a result, many issues that touch on education and training, business, communication, the healthcare sectors and transport among others in the world a are impacted, and tremendous changes noticed when compared to the past and customary ways that most of the mentioned sectors were managed and operated. It has made anything possible to acquire in the globalized world. However, among the many changes witnessed presently in the world, this paper presents an analysis of telecommuting ( working from home) noting its impacts to business and personal and states my position with supporting evidence about the subject.
Telecommuting has impacted individuals and business in a variety of ways. The business sector has realized benefits such as increased retention of employees. The reasons that analysts state the noted position is because telecommuting brings a balance in life and work and thus many businesses able to retain more employees. In the long run, it becomes cheaper and easier to run such businesses because the recruiting process in the contemporary times has proved expensive for most business entities (Dinnocenzo, 2010). It thus helps businesses save on costs that would have been used in the recruitment processes as a result of high retention rate allowing such businesses to channel that money to other programs geared towards expansions and growth of the business. Secondly, businesses also get a wider geographic reach that considers employee in both urban and rural areas. It extends larger pull of talent that can be sourced from both the rural and urban areas and in any part of the world. There are roles that are hard to fill in the business sets up, and therefore telecommuting gives a better option for businesses to deal with the challenge. Thirdly, businesses enjoy reduced relocation costs for employees and transportation of office equipment and facilities to various offices and building that they would have offices that they operate. The benefits of costs saving that business experience results from either direct or indirect actions by the business. Among the direct benefits that business experience as a result of telecommuting is that they save on the costs of electricity as less electricity is required. The office supplies and furniture used are also minimal saving on costs for the business. It also saves on space and costs as the business look for a small office able to host only a few employees that mostly coordinate with the rest of the employees working from homes. Fourthly, the business can also use the telecommuting process as a recruiting tool. For example, the employees that would prove to be more productive and perform quality work can be recruited permanently or given an advantage for example when recruiting for work that is performed from the office. It ensures that businesses can recruit the best regarding production and output that makes them better placed to realize their business objectives with ease. Lastly, some employers and business that are environmentally conscious and support environmental ethics can point to the fact that their workers use less fuel as they do not commute to work and as a result promote environments and social responsibility indirectly that is a concern for many business organizations presently.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
The benefits that telecommuting has to the employees or person Is that it gives them room to make more money as at times of emergencies they are still able to work which keeps the organizations running and their income sustained in the event of any scenario that might warrant an emergency. Secondly, it increases the productivity of the workers resulting in more income in the cases where they are paid according to their output due to the less stress that telecommuting employees experience making them happy. Studies have supported such positions such positions and statements. For example, a study conducted by Stanford indicated that their employees that work in the call center increased productivity by 13 percent when they worked for their premises at home. Also, a study done by the University of Texas, Austin indicated that telecommuting employees work more time (five to seven hours) than their counterparts in the offices. It hence increases productivity and more income for employees as well as the business (Wagner, 2014). Thirdly, there is less destruction of such workers and results to more productivity and more income for the employees. Lastly, if the employee might feel slightly sick, they still work from home and hence increase productivity resulting to more income for the workers. It also empowers the employees and feels they are respected and trusted that results to more incentives and proactive measures that benefit the business at large. The employee’s creative thinking ability and discipline is thus reinforced and nurtured making them more productive and competent.
On the contrary, the telecommuting also impacts businesses negatively. First, it could be costly and less productive to business as businesses that lack the means to actively supervise their workday. Businesses may find it hard to track employee’s hours and create room for manipulation by untrustworthy employees. Secondly, businesses experience a higher security burden that results from employees operating from different locations and therefore to secure data that is critical to the business becomes harder. Data for business have to be secured and accessed only by relevant and authorized personnel and authorities. Thirdly, most business has found it difficult to develop the legal policies and guidelines that insure employees that are working from home. Some businesses have also found it difficult to introduce insurance coverage and policies as it prevents more dilemmas to businesses organizations when employees telecommute. Lastly, if the business employee cannot afford to acquire the right equipment to do the work from home, businesses have the responsibility to provide such requirements and might mean upfront costs to the business. It might prove expensive for the business especially in then events that the employee’s returns are low and of poor quality.
The negative impact that telecommuting might present to employees. First, it denies them the synergy that they could build and develop from team -work that often results in more output ad production due to the diverse views and ideas are given by different employees enabling the business implement the best that suits their business environments and conditions. It denies employees an opportunity to develop and nurture teamwork skills and interpersonal relations skills that are critical to the business and the social world as a whole. Secondly, there is a possibility that employees would work more hours because they are from their home and hence comfort of working even extra hours (Allen, Golden & Shockley, 2015). If the business or employer has standard pay that is not hourly rated, it might limit income opportunities for extra time and work done by employees and therefore limit their opportunity for more income as opposed to working from the in office. Overworking is also not healthy as it might result in burnouts and fatigue that limit the employee’s production. It might, in the long run, develop to another health challenge that might prove expensive to treat and manage. For example, employees that spend too much time on their computers might develop eye and back problems that are expensive to treat. There is a risk in the long term to realize the noted healthcare challenges when they overwork, and hence they need to take care and caution.
Telecommuting thus has added value to the society today. It has created more opportunities for people that have encouraged more people to get opportunities to work and earn income. The technological developments have contributed to a great extent to the success of the telecommuting idea. In the present times that the internet and technology have penetrated the world deeply, it has made the concept a noble idea that its time came. Before that, the idea would have experienced great challenges in implementation and operation. Many clients of many business entities also operate from home and for example, conduct their shopping from home in the continued e-commerce that is taking the world by strum. It shows that the telecommuting idea works well presently and more so at the present times that the concept of economic space is critical (Fried & Hansson, 2013). It is a noble idea that should be supported by many because of the numerous benefits that it has to the business and employees as stated above. Despite the drawbacks that it has, it should be encouraged and measure taken that try to limit or reduce in totality the likelihood challenges that might result in the event such as the legal concerns that can be addressed objectively by employers. In the present times that business experience stiff competition, it creates additional opportunities for business to earn more and become more competent as a business can implement both the in office operations as well as the telecommuting idea that would enhance strategies and rapidly expand and grow in productivity and productivity. Telecommuting thus is a great idea that needs to be embraced by businesses as well as employees as it gives them more benefits and opportunities than the drawbacks realized from the concept.
References
Allen, T. D., Golden, T. D., & Shockley, K. M. (2015). How Effective Is Telecommuting? Assessing the Status of Our Scientific Findings. Psychological Science in The Public Interest , 16(2), 40-68.
Dinnocenzo, D. A. (2010). 101 tips for telecommuters: Successfully manage your work, team, technology, and family. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Pub./RHYW.
Fried, J., & Hansson, D. H. (2013). Remote: Office not required . London : Vermilion
Wagner, C. G. (2014). Fear and Loathing in the Virtual Workforce. Futurist , 38(2): 6-7.
