telecomutting

Telecommuting, also known as teleworking, is the act of working from a remote location, usually one's home. This is made simple with the use of various telecommunicationstechnologies such as a telephone, fax machine and the internet. Many telecommuters are also set up with web conferencing capabilities allowing them to sit in on office meetings viamodem and webcam, or at the very least, a conference call.

In most cases, telecommuting equipment is provided by the company, though it's up to the teleworker to provide an office space free of distraction. For the telecommuter, the benefits abound. Most enjoy the flexibility of working their own hours, at their own pace, as long as all deadlines are met. There's also the ability to work in one's pajamas or take breaks as needed at attend to personal family matters. Money is saved on expenses such as commuting, lunch or snacks, clothing and daycare.

The flip side to this is the lack of camaraderie; telecommuting can be rather lonely. By missing out on the office gossip and small company meetings, one can also miss out on vital pieces of information. Even though most telecommuters enjoy working without a micromanaging supervisor looking over their shoulders, they also admit it's difficult for them to get a proper review when their employers can't see them on a day-to-day basis. It's difficult to stand out in an organization or be a team player when you're not there everyday.