Why are Employers SO skeptical about telecommuting?

Before I even read the article, my defense mechanism went right up.
I am a full fledged telecommuter for a company and I have become a
much better employee (not to say I wasn't a good employee before).
Here is the article with my comments after it in quotes.


New study by Business 21 Publishing shows that companies are deeply
skeptical about allowing employees to telecommute. Only 30% encourage
it, while the rest are either opposed or allow it only for employees
they really trust.

My first thought, I can imagine their biggest concern/fear is
that people would be doing things other than their job
and I do agree, there are some types of people who would
take advantage of the situation, but hey, isn't that what "firing" solves. I say give them a chance to prove themselves, before you totally write the option off. Don't knock it till you try it. For me, I have become even more productive working from home.

(PRWEB) October 27, 2005 -- A new study by Business 21 Publishing shows that companies are deeply skeptical about allowing employees to telecommute. Only 30% encourage it, while the rest are either opposed or allow it only for employees they really trust.

I can respect that "the ones they really trust".

Companies need to start thinking about their telecommuting policies immediately because it’s expected to explode in coming years. Experts say telecommuting will increase 60% by the year 2010. That’s right: the telecommuting workforce is predicted to grow from the current 24 million to 40 million in just five years.

And I think that's absolutely fabulous. Just imagine
the opportunities that people will have, being
able to telecommute for large companies. Resume's
saying, experienced and successful telecommuter will
become the norm. I look forward to teleworking for
companies in the larger cities and still be able
to live out in the country where it's peace and
quiet. The quality of life is half the battle in
having a fabulous and dedicated employee. Don't ya think.

As more and more employees start being offered flexible schedules and telecommuting opportunities by their companies, employers will see more and more existing and prospective employees demanding the same.

And the problem with that would be??
They could always put them on a "temporary employment status" or trial run. Its' sort of like gambling I guess and employers need to get into the new era and new
ways of doing things.

This could have serious implications for both recruiting and retention.

WHY???? This makes NO SENSE to me at all!!

The time is now to determine:

1. How your company feels about telecommuting. In some industries and for certain job functions, letting people work at home is a no-brainer. In other circumstances, it’s not even an option.

True, ie factory work, but hell, we're sending all of our factories overseas anyway and those folks will be needing new jobs or be allowed to maintain good customer service by keeping their more experienced employees on the books. Sadly the laborers are the ones who will lose there. OK, so I tangent lol.

And then there’s a big gray zone in between, where telecommuting either works or doesn’t depending on company values.

2. What your policy toward telecommuting will be. Who will, or won't, be eligible? How will you justify offering it to one employee but not another?

When 120 HR executives were asked, "Should companies encourage telecommuting?" more than 4 in 10 said they didn't see much benefit and would trust only a minority of employees. Nearly a quarter of respondents indicated that telecommuting is a bad idea because it risks making good employees less productive.

Or just the opposite even. When I first started, my boss was
skeptical too, but I need to have an income and can't afford
to be a slacker. She saw that it worked for everyone,
company included, by having me telecommute. I would
hope that these skeptical employers would simply give
people an opportunity to telecommute. What would be
the harm in it? It all goes back to what type of company
we're talking about.

To read the a complete summary of the study’s conclusions, as well as an in-depth article that discusses telecommuting pros and cons, and offers suggestions for how to make it work, go to

The Trophy Job

'Taring down the Walls of Traditional Working' An Unusual Telecommute Site, Answers the Call Increasing numbers of job seekers are taking on the tedious task of trying to get, what has evolved into 'The Trophy Job.' When finally secured; it can bring rewards to both candidates and employers, but for many the search is turbulent.

Sacramento, CA October 13, 2005-- Job seekers have positioned telecommuting on a pedestal, as “The Trophy Job” that is only attainable for a lucky few. However, TeleRepsathome is "taring down the walls of traditional working" by paving a pathway for home based job seekers that lead to the nation's fastest growing telecommuting job market. Telecommuters’ calls are being answered for; work now, consistent job leads and readiness for telecommuting. The surge of telecommuting jobs in the teleservices industry has helped many “want-to-be” telecommuters realize their goal of working at home.

"In the process of researching the job progress of telecommuters. TeleRepsathome has discovered that the very first job, a high percentage of telecommuters get, is telephone related,” said Tara Brewer, founder of TeleRepsathome.com. "Surprisingly, further research has revealed, the majority of telecommuters would not choose telephone work as their "work-at-home" dream job; some of the reasons given were- background noise from children and pets, plain old phone phobia and irate customers"

So, why are these jobs wanted but not welcomed? 5 reasons...
1. Telephone related jobs are the most frequently posted for telecommuters. For Instance, Customer Service Reps, Telemarketers, TeleNurses, Travel Agents and Appointment Setters, are always in demand. 2. Telephone jobs usually can be performed from any city or state. 3. Pay is realistic. 4. A large number of these jobs hire quickly and do not require specialized training or certification- of course candidates should meet the employer’s qualifications. 5. The only major equipment required to start working, is a computer with an internet connection; which generally is not a problem, because a desktop with internet service is already in the homes of most people. All these factors spell- income now for potential telecommuters.

Although companies are hiring rapidly for these positions, only a hand-full of home based job seekers get them. Many people who desire a job from home- do not know how to find one that does not have a hidden scam or are just too busy to search and purge job listings; and then, if they are able to climb over these hurdles- telecommuters need to have a few exclusive job leads in order to cut out some of the competition, in this highly hunted job market. Having immediate access to a job service that does all of this for them, help telecommuters accelerate their job search.

“Despite, what people may think; home based workers are college educated and highly skilled,” stated Tara, “In fact, employers would be hard-pressed to find a more motivated work force. Employers are becoming more and more privy to this niche market of candidates and how they are changing the face of employment as we knew it.”

Employers need a targeted recruiting tool, especially if they are seeking to hire candidates in the highly popular telecommuting job market, using a targeted recruiting tool gives the employer an advantage. Most employers do not know that posting a job for a telecommuting or home office position- on a public job board, may be sabotaged by a scam post. Scam artist also use key words such as "telecommute", "work from home" and "home based"; to trick candidates who are earnestly seeking work at home. The majority of the time, job searchers have to weed through countless scam post in order to find the “real” home based job- that’s if they do not get frustrated before they find it.

On the other hand, an environment of controlled job post would prove more effective for the employer, saving time and money. This pre-screened job service, lift the burden of financial risk and emotional distress off the shoulders of candidates because the irrelevant job post are eliminated. Candidates are able to easily access and apply for jobs that are real home based employment opportunities, which ultimately benefit the candidate and employer.

With the move of call centers from building to home, the teleservices industry is having a tremendous impact on the telecommuting job market; it has been the driving force of creating more virtual workers than ever before. Through this revolutionary transition, TeleRepsathome.com is “taring down the walls of traditional working” by giving telecommuters access to jobs that are in demand now, and the resources to get them.

About TeleRepsathome.com:
TeleRepsathome is a member of the Association of Teleservices International. TeleRepsathome.com was founded out of the need for telecommuters to find jobs quicker and to create more employment opportunities for individuals who live in an economy where jobs are limited. TeleRepsathome specialize in telecommuting jobs in the teleservices industry; however telecommuters can also apply for a variety of other home based jobs. The internet is full of business opportunities and paid surveys, but you will not find these at TeleRepsathome. We understand that every one is not an entrepreneur; some people just want a steady pay check. TeleRepsathome is committed to helping individuals who want to work for a reputable company, at home. New jobs are posted weekly, for telecommuters in the US and Canada. Employers seeking to hire virtual or home based employees are welcome to post ads free! http://www.telerepsathome.com/Employerintro.html

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