Can telecommuting kill your career?

Source: Computerworld

Not every employee is champing at the bit to telecommute. A survey commissioned by Steelcase Inc., a manufacturer of office furniture, shows that professionals have decidedly mixed feelings about the option of working from home.

On one hand, respondents said that they believe it's important for employers to let their employees telecommute. They think that companies that let their people work from home will be more successful than companies that don't, because they believe that working outside the office increases morale and reduces attrition. Respondents also said that they see working from home as a way to help them achieve work-life balance.

On the other hand, many of these same respondents worry about their employers' perceptions of telecommuting. Almost half (46%) of the respondents said that their employers allow them to work from home, but less than one-third (32%) said they participate in telecommuting arrangements. That's because they feel that their employers really prefer that they work in an office -- both to control the work environment and to prevent a decline in productivity. Respondents also worry that working from home will hamper their career growth.

The survey of 700 white collar professionals was conducted over the phone in early June.

Here are some of the highlights:

• More than half of respondents said it's important for a company to endorse telecommuting.
• Of the 32% of respondents who have the option to telecommute but don't, 71% said they feel their employers would rather they work in the office to prevent a dip in productivity, and 64% said they think they'll miss out on a promotion.
• 80% of respondents said that they think existing technology allows them to remain just as connected to the office while working at home.
• Half of respondents said that they're more productive in a different work environment.
• More than half said that they think companies that promote telecommuting will be more successful than companies that don't.
• Over 80% said that having the option of working from home increases employee morale and reduces turnover.
• 80% said that they believe the telecommuting trend will continue to grow over the next five years.
• 62% said that they think their employers prefer employees to work in the office to prevent a lack of communication.
• 41% said that they believe that their employers don't let people telecommute because they think the cost of the technology needed to support telecommuters is prohibitive.
• 61% of employees who telecommute do so balance their family and work lives; 37% do so to reduce their carbon footprint.