What is Telecommuting?

Telecommuting is defined as employees who work from their home or satellite work center all or part of the work week. Communication between the telecommuter and their office is done by fax, phone, modem, and teleconferencing.

FACT: Today, about 10% of the US workforce (11 million Americans) telecommute. They are joined by another 14.2 million independent work-at-homers. Roughly 23% of the working population in the US are mobile workers.

The Benefits-for employers and employees:

• Less stressed employees who feel valued and are more productive and more motivated
• Reduced absenteeism and sick leave
• Reduction of leased space
• Flexible work environment

Choices:

• Employees can telecommute one day a week, two, three, four or all five.
• Telecommuters will feel like they got a bonus and a raise, all at once, as they add at least an hour to their time at home, and slash their commuting costs.
• Your organization will be more attractive to potential employees in the recruiting process.
• Built in disaster management tool...if you have a problem in your main location, work can still be done from the remote location.

Offices that are designed to be geographically more convenient for an employee who has a long commute to work. A telecommuting center has all the necessities and amenities of any office, and they offer all the standard office equipment. Many have video teleconferencing. There is voice mail, e-mail and the Internet. Long-term commitments are not required.

• Hagerstown (http://www.wc-link.org/telework/)
• Frederick (http://www.ibacorp.us/datacenter.html)
• Waldorf, Laurel, Prince Frederick (http://www.telecommutesomd.org/)
• Bowie (http://www.bsu-telecommute.com/index.html)

• Fredericksburg , Stafford, Woodbridge , Fairfax , Herndon, Manassas (http://www.nocommute.org/)
• Shenandoah Valley, Winchester (http://www.nettechcenter.net/)

For the Metropolitan Washington Council of Government's Telework Web site, click here.
    For their Telework Center Directory click here.
    For Other Telework Resources click here.