Lack of Trust in Telecommuting
A recent article on the SHRM website discusses a recent survey of executives that reveals that many executives distrust telecommuting. There appears to be conflicting studies - some of which support telecommuting and the one discussed by SHRM that casts doubt upon it:
Nearly one-third, or 31 percent, said their organizations are concerned about document safety regarding telecommuting. Fears of lowered productivity and trust issues were close behind, at 27 percent and 25 percent, respectively.
Seems that there are still several perceptions out there that prevent some from embracing telecommuting:
- The idea that it's a perk. It's NOT a perk. It is something that is used when appropriate for a given organizational culture, and a job whose design makes it a viable alternative.
- Security is an issue. Why not take all that money you are saving in real estate costs and put it into data security? There are plenty of companies that have figured out how to operate major functions virtually with a little creativity.
- Workers' Compensation. Why not come up with a policy to deal with potential problems in this area rather than presuming it can't work?
- Are people actually working? There we go with that face time problem again. Certainly, while all jobs are not appropriate for telecommuting, if we evaluate employees on face time, we're missing the whole point. We should be evaluating employees on results and effectiveness, not how much we saw their faces.
- It's not as effective - I hear this all the time when I teach online classes. The fact of the matter is that there are plenty of students who fall asleep in class, just like there are employees who don't accomplish much on a given day in the office. I'd rather have an employee or student who is fully engaged regardless of the setting, than one who just shows up to show their face!
Please, get back on your soapbox!
I don't know if we should blame SHRM or the writer, but all of your points are right on.
My biggest concern is that people will read the article and take it as the truth.
Thanks for supporting the cause.
By the way, have you followed the issues surrounding NY's Convenience of the Employer rule and the attempts to pass the Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act in the US Congress to eliminate it? Here is another impediment to telecommuting that imposes a financial burden to many who could and would do it.
Chuck Wilsker
President & CEO
The Telework Coalition
Washington, DC