The New Office

1
The New Office

• Essentials of Telecommuting
• Laurie Tannenbaum

2
Telecommuting

• A Few Facts
• Who Should Telecommute?
• Selling the Idea
• Setting Up Contracts
• Purchasing the Equipment
• Settling In and Setting Up a Routine
• Staying Visible
• Telecommuting Tips

3
A Few Facts

• 40 of employees telecommute
• Number of telecommuters has more than quadrupled
  in the last decade
• Commute time is used as work time
• Productivity increases

4
Who Should Telecommute?

• Capable of working independently
• Skilled at time management
• Self-motivated
• Focused, able to ignore distractions
• Well organized

5
Selling the Idea

• Employer Benefits
• Reduce overhead
• Attract new employees
• Increase productivity
• Reduce sick days
• Improve morale
• Reduce employee turnover

6
Selling the Idea

• Employee Benefits
• Scheduling flexibility
• Improved productivity
• Financial savings
• Improved quality of life

7
Setting Up Contracts

• Determine a trial period
• Create termination agreement
• Establish a work schedule (days/hours and
  home/office)
• Determine job performance measurements
• Specify equipment/utility cost responsibility
• Establish times for worksite inspections

8
The Equipment

• Computer
• Software
• Telephone lines
• Remote access
• Fax, printer, copier
• Desk, chair, bookcase, filing cabinet
• Whiteboard, bulletin board
• Other essentials

9
Settling InSetting Up a Routine

• Find your home office space
• Set up the office
• Cultivate your work discipline
• Establish good work habits
• Prepare for downtime
• Set deadlines
• Be organized

10
Staying Visible

• Work your scheduled hours
• Establish regular meetings with manager and
  peers
• Produce status reports (weekly, bi-weekly)
• Schedule face-to-face time in the office

11
Telecommuting Tips

• Dress for work
• Cultivate your relationships with tech support
• Be grateful and share a few words of thanks
• Refuse salary reductions

12
Telecommuting Tips

• Address co-worker perceptions
• Seek out human contact
• Avoid family/work issues
• Use an egg timer
• Give yourself a breaktake 5 (or 15)

13
Telecommuting Sources

• www.telecommuter.com
• www.gilgordon.com/telecommuting
• www.justify.com
• www.telecommutemagazine.com
• www.gsa.gov/pbs/owi/manual8.htm (sample
  telecommuting agreements)

14
Questions