Jennifer writes:
I want to be a stay-at-home mother — and hold down a job. This seems to be virtually impossible in today’s business world. Telecommuting is my only solution to the problem. How do I go about finding the companies offering this option?
Telecommuting, also referred to as teleworking, is an employment scenario that many workers — at one time or another — fantasize about. The idea of not having to face the morning and afternoon commutes, of wearing your pajamas or sweats all day, of totally managing your time, and of spending more time with your family — all these things contribute to our view that telecommuting should — or could — be an option that would make us happier and better workers.
And people with young children or elderly parents often seek out telecommuting, as you have, as a way to stay an active member of the workforce while balancing family obligations.
The reality of telecommuting, though, is that while you do eliminate the commute to work, you still need childcare or eldercare — because you cannot expect to effectively work while being constantly distracted by family issues. You also need enough room in your house or apartment where you can carve out some space that is dedicated to work.
If you are still seriously thinking about telecommuting, here are a few other reality checks for you to consider:
- It’s very rare to find a job that starts out as a telecommuting job. It’s much easier to convert an existing position into a telecommuting position by presenting a proposal to your supervisor.
- Most people who telecommute do not do so full-time; instead, they usually telecommute from home two or three days a week. Two days per week is the national average among teleworkers, according to the International Telework Association and Council.
On the positive side, telecommuting employment opportunities are continuing to rise, year after year. Gartner Dataquest estimated in 2009 (apparently the most recent year stats are available) that 27.5 percent of workers telecommuted. And some companies have much more favorable attitudes and policies about teleworking than others.
You can learn more about the trends in telework — and how to get your employer to allow you to telecommute — by reading our article, Making Your Case for Telecommuting: How to Convince the Boss.
You can also find other telework resources and links by visiting the Telecommuting and Work-at-Home Jobs section of Quintessential Careers.
Melanie writes:
I am currently employed full-time in an office, but would like to change to part-time (and work from home). How do I come up with a written proposal to present to the president of the company for this? Do you have any samples of what such a proposal would look like? Can you help?
The Career Doctor responds:
Workplace flexibility is probably one of the biggest issues facing employers today. More and more employees are seeking some form of flexibility — compressed workweeks, different work hours, flextime, job-sharing, telework, etc. And more employers are at least exploring options in response to this increased demand from workers.
There are all sorts of issues tied to workplace flexibility, however, and many employers — while wanting to do the right thing — are struggling with issues of equity, productivity, and management.
The good news is telework is on the increase.
But your task is made all the harder because you are seeking two changes in your status. And the move to part-time is made tougher by issues of how salary and benefits will be handled.
Your goal is to develop a detailed plan that will show the company how and why your move to part-time telework will be beneficial for all parties — how it will make you a more productive worker and the specific benefits to the company.
You should conduct research into how other companies handle these issues. There are also a number of online resources that can help you.
Read more in this article published on Quintessential Careers: Making Your Case for Telecommuting: How to Convince the Boss.
Today is Job Action Day 2009, a day for job-seekers to take action steps right now — today — to move forward in their careers. The Quintessential Careers family of blogs (including this blog and Quintessential Careers Blog, Quintessential Resume and Cover Letter Tips Blog, and A Storied Career), is looking at promising aspects of the currently employment scene — in this case, telework/working from a remote location.
One way employers are coping with the recession is to cut costs (rent, utilities, office furniture, for example) by hiring employees to telework from locations away from the main workplace. Because of that trend, the economic downturn turned out to be a blessing in disguise for Angela Smith, a marketing communications professional from San Jose, CA. Here’s her story:
When I was unexpectedly laid off from my job as a marketing communications (marcom) specialist in the power industry in July 2008, I networked, interviewed, and searched for a job that would be both challenging and rewarding. It was tough going, as job leads with competitive wages were hard to find and/or required relocation. Then I found Avistar Communications, a business-class desktop videoconferencing company based in San Mateo, CA. As marketing manager, I am responsible for public relations and marketing communications worldwide, and the best part of my job is using Avistar’s technology because desktop videoconferencing lets me, my colleagues, and my partners “see” each other daily, regardless of where we are based.
My boss and I collaborate and work together as a team daily — he in New York, I in California — and because of desktop videoconferencing, we don’t have the disconnects that sometimes happen with virtual or long-distance employees. It makes no difference whether I’m working in the office, from my home or on the road. When we need to get together on a project, we’re literally just one click away from a face-to-face conversation. When I was looking for a new position, I never dreamed that in this economy I could find such a great job with an industry leader, let alone one with great flexibility and opportunity as well.
I now see the economy fuelling more unexpected and creative approaches to employment.
No longer does a person have to live in an urban area or relocate to work for a big company to be paid a good competitive wage. I’m a prime example. Not only did I get a leg up on the corporate ladder, but also I found my industry niche. I love every minute of the industry I work in, especially for the mobility, flexibility, and freedom this type of software solution gives to a business professional who needs to work from any location, anywhere, anytime.
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