The pros and cons of telecommuting

Working from home creates work-life balance, but you lose on-site brainstorming

With an average Toronto commute time of 66 minutes each way, you can bet your brake lights many would work from home in a heartbeat.

Telecommuting is much easier these days, thanks in part to technological tools such as high-speed Internet, inexpensive mobile devices and secure cloud services that remotely host your files. Skyping into meetings is becoming commonplace for many small- to medium-sized businesses.

But organizations (and employees) need to weigh the pros and cons before deciding to work from home. Here are some factors to consider: Pros For the worker: Staying at home paves the way for a better work-life balance. Many take their kids to and from school, spend less on professional attire and lunches (and eat healthier) and aren’t distracted with colleagues asking for something or being dragged into meetings where you’re not needed).

A Stanford University report and a joint study by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Northwestern University both found that those who work from home are less stressed and more productive than those who work a 9-to-5 job out of the home.

For the business: You can hire the best person for the job — even if they live across the country or around the world.

Candidates who want to work from home may accept a lower salary than those who must commute to work.

As a cost-saving consideration, you don’t have to pay for office spacerelated expenses for an at-home worker. And if the above-mentioned study is correct, those who work from home are happier and more productive, which is good for morale and efficiency.

For the environment and other cubicle dwellers: Not only can telecommuting save time and money but it has an eco-advantage, too. Fewer cars on the road reduces gas emissions that contribute to pollution and global warming. The more companies allow for telecommuting, the lighter the roads might be for those who must drive — or take public transit or taxis — to get to the office. In other words, everyone wins. Cons For the worker: In a 2002 survey conducted by University of Southern California, telecommuters said interpersonal relationships were missed while working at home. This includes having coffee or lunches with colleagues, water cooler gossip, collaborating on team projects and perhaps after-work drinks. While it may sound appealing to work from home, many have trouble staying motivated without a supervisor or boss looking over their shoulder. Juggling kids and remaining focused could also be a challenge.

For the business: From a creativity standpoint, there might be a loss of on-site brainstorming, plus allowing some employees to work from home (and not others) could lead to lower office morale. Without physical proximity with your employees, there’s an increased security and privacy risk. Not only could it be easier for a disgruntled at-home worker to wreak havoc, perhaps by stealing data, but even accidental breaches can happen (such as giving your teen the wrong USB stick) or a breach in the network connection between the office and the home. Telecommuting might also complicate insurance policies and workers’ compensation.

Given the advantages and challenges, a business must first assess whether telecommuting is feasible for employees — obviously, some positions aren’t conducive — and companies should ensure the person is self-motivated.

Finally, remember that it doesn’t have to be “all or none,” as some businesses restrict at-home working to a day or two a week.