Telecommuting is gaining more popularity as firms realize the benefit of its use. The Center interviewed Dr. Kathryn Fonner, a researcher with extensive data on the applicability of teleworking in the contemporary workplace.
Dr. Fonner’s research highlights the benefits of telecommuting for employees, such as higher job satisfaction, less stress and time pressure due to interruptions, and less exposure to office politics. As expected, teleworkers exchange information with their supervisors and colleagues less frequently than do their peers who are physically co-located. At the same time, Dr. Fonner and her colleague found that teleworkers have similar levels of access to quality and timely information, proving that more information is not always better.
Is telecommuting a good fit for your company?