Telecommuting

The last few years have given rise to a substantial increase in the capabilities of personal computers as well as improved telecommunications facilities. Many people have also observed that the type of work performed today is radically different from the manual labor required several years ago. A large portion (perhaps as much as 50 percent) of the U.S. workforce provides information services. Because this information is easy to transmit, it is theoretically possible for millions of workers to perform their current jobs from their own homes. They would not have to go to an office in order to work. However, there are many issues that need to be resolved before telecommuting becomes commonplace. Here, Paul, a financial analyst, is asking his boss (Duncan) for permission to work at home. The CEO (Leto) also has to be convinced.

Paul: Duncan, I’ve been reading about some companies that are allowing the employees to work at home. They work on the PCs and trade information with the firm’s computers by connecting over the phone lines.

Duncan: Yes, I’ve heard of that. In fact, I ran into a friend at a convention who has some employees working at home.

Paul: Well, I’d like to try it. You know I live out by the desert and have to drive about 50 miles to get to work. By working at home, I’d save gas and I’d be able to spend more time on my work. I already have a fast PC and a modem. Most of my job is spent analyzing numbers, and I can get those by dialing in from home. There’s really no reason for me to come here every day.

Duncan: I know you spend a lot of time at the computer, but I’m not sure. I’d really prefer to have you here, so I can keep an eye on your work. You’ve been doing a good job, but sometimes I need to check your calculations.

Paul: I’ve already thought of that. I’ll get a separate phone line in my house for the computer. That way you can call me whenever you want. With this new software on the LAN, we can even work on the same project at the same time. All of the information on my screen will show up on yours too. So, we can talk on the phone, and I can show you step-by-step how I did the calculations.

Duncan: Hmmm. That might work. But what about distractions? Don’t you have two children?

Paul: Sure; on the other hand, there’ll be fewer distractions from the other workers. Plus, I can start earlier and work later at night. Look, how about if we try it for a month as an experiment? If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come back in. If it doesn’t work, you’ll have a good excuse when someone else asks. If it works, you can offer the option to other employees. Just think of the office space you’ll save.

Duncan: That’s an interesting thought, but I’ll have to clear it with the CEO. I’ll set up a meeting. . .

At the meeting with the CEO . . .

Duncan: Those are the basic advantages. I’m willing to try it as an experiment. . .

Leto: Well, I’m not. I think it’s foolish. Paul, you chose to live that far away and you knew how long the drive was. We’d have no way to keep track of your work if you stay at home. For instance, with all that extra time, you’ll be tempted to moonlight for some other company. We need your full attention on this job.

Paul: I like this job. I promise I’ll spend all my time working on this job. And you or Duncan can still follow everything I do. He just has to call me. Plus, the firm’s computer holds all of my work, so you can always see what I’m working on and how fast it’s getting done.

Leto: There are still too many problems. What about security? You work with some top-level information. How can we allow you to transfer all of this data to your home computer? What if some neighbor decides to look through your PC files?

Duncan: But Paul takes work home now. I don’t see the difference.

Leto: I still don’t like the idea. Maybe we can trust Paul, but what about the next person? What happens when everyone wants to work at home? If I let Paul do it, but no one else, I’ll end up with discrimination complaints.

Paul: Eventually, I think everyone will end up working at home. There are a lot of qualified workers out there willing to work part-time who can’t commute to the office. We’d just be starting the new style earlier than some other companies.

Leto: Maybe so, but I think the risk is way too high. If we let our employees stay home, they might work and they might not. If they don’t, we’re dead. It would take too long to pinpoint the problem. Duncan, you and the other managers would just hide the delays from me. By the time all of the managers told me the problem, it would be too late. Maybe next year . . .

Questions

Do you think that Leto is too strict? What advantages does telecommuting provide to the company? What advantages to the workers?
As a new employee, do you want to work for a company where most of the people work out of their homes? Would you accept a lower salary to work for such a company?
What type of jobs would be easier to perform with telecommuting? What jobs would not work well?
What changes will managers have to make in order for telecommuting to succeed?
Do you think more companies will support telecommuting in the next 5 years or 10 years? What pressures will persuade companies to use telecommuting? What social practices will lean against it?
What problems would be experienced by telecommuting workers? The employers?
If 25 percent to 50 percent of the workers eventually telecommute, how will society be changed?

Paul:	Duncan, I’ve been reading about some companies that are allowing the employees to work at home. They work on the PCs and trade information with the firm’s computers by connecting over the phone lines.

Duncan:	Yes, I’ve heard of that. In fact, I ran into a friend at a convention who has some employees working at home.

Paul:	Well, I’d like to try it. You know I live out by the desert and have to drive about 50 miles to get to work. By working at home, I’d save gas and I’d be able to spend more time on my work. I already have a fast PC and a modem. Most of my job is spent analyzing numbers, and I can get those by dialing in from home. There’s really no reason for me to come here every day.

Duncan:	I know you spend a lot of time at the computer, but I’m not sure. I’d really prefer to have you here, so I can keep an eye on your work. You’ve been doing a good job, but sometimes I need to check your calculations.

Paul:	I’ve already thought of that. I’ll get a separate phone line in my house for the computer. That way you can call me whenever you want. With this new software on the LAN, we can even work on the same project at the same time. All of the information on my screen will show up on yours too. So, we can talk on the phone, and I can show you step-by-step how I did the calculations.

Duncan:	Hmmm. That might work. But what about distractions? Don’t you have two children?

Paul:	Sure; on the other hand, there’ll be fewer distractions from the other workers. Plus, I can start earlier and work later at night. Look, how about if we try it for a month as an experiment? If it doesn’t work out, I’ll come back in. If it doesn’t work, you’ll have a good excuse when someone else asks. If it works, you can offer the option to other employees. Just think of the office space you’ll save.

Duncan:	That’s an interesting thought, but I’ll have to clear it with the CEO. I’ll set up a meeting. . .

	At the meeting with the CEO . . .

Duncan:	Those are the basic advantages. I’m willing to try it as an experiment. . .

Leto:	Well, I’m not. I think it’s foolish. Paul, you chose to live that far away and you knew how long the drive was. We’d have no way to keep track of your work if you stay at home. For instance, with all that extra time, you’ll be tempted to moonlight for some other company. We need your full attention on this job.

Paul:	I like this job. I promise I’ll spend all my time working on this job. And you or Duncan can still follow everything I do. He just has to call me. Plus, the firm’s computer holds all of my work, so you can always see what I’m working on and how fast it’s getting done.

Leto:	There are still too many problems. What about security? You work with some top-level information. How can we allow you to transfer all of this data to your home computer? What if some neighbor decides to look through your PC files?

Duncan:	But Paul takes work home now. I don’t see the difference.

Leto:	I still don’t like the idea. Maybe we can trust Paul, but what about the next person? What happens when everyone wants to work at home? If I let Paul do it, but no one else, I’ll end up with discrimination complaints.

Paul:	Eventually, I think everyone will end up working at home. There are a lot of qualified workers out there willing to work part-time who can’t commute to the office. We’d just be starting the new style earlier than some other companies.

Leto:	Maybe so, but I think the risk is way too high. If we let our employees stay home, they might work and they might not. If they don’t, we’re dead. It would take too long to pinpoint the problem. Duncan, you and the other managers would just hide the delays from me. By the time all of the managers told me the problem, it would be too late. Maybe next year . . .