1. I can create my own workspace that suits my personal preferences, and optimizes my productivity
2. It’s quiet, and I can focus on the task at hand
3. I like being treated as an adult and trusted to do my work

Here’s 3 things I don’t like about telework:

1. I can’t spontaneously brainstorm, face-to-face with my colleagues
2. My tribe feels too dispersed and disconnected, despite the technology that links us
3. My office is 20 steps from the kitchen. I’ve gained 7 pounds!

Many of my current co-workers telecommute on day a week (usually Friday); quite a few telecommute two days a week. Some, like Gareth (above) find that they have too many distractions at home and use “getting dressed and going TO work” to provide the discipline of working. Telecommuting isn’t for everyone.

I would advise against 100% telecommuting. At least in my work (internal technical communication and web support) it helps a lot that the team really knows who I am. Out of sight may not be out of mind, especially with IM and email, but it is out of familiarity.

Social interaction with work mates can be more important than you might think (more than I would have realized) especially when you have to collaborate. Avoid the “Who IS this person (and why should I care what s/he’s telling me)? effect. I’ve done 100% on site, 100% remote and balanced onsite/offsite and the latter seems to works best for me and many of my co-workers.

What I would love to see is more companies embracing a company-wide telecommuting policy. I’d love to see more companies setting policy of one (or more) specific days when telecommuting is accepted, encouraged, and largely assumed.

Practice conference calls with video. Experiment with 4-day in-office work weeks (either work 10 hours 4 days or telework on the 5th). Cut back on services one day a week. Provide incentives for telecommuters.

And, especially, understand that “time on site” does not equate to productivity.

There are also many people who need the social interaction at work. I think that can be achieved through social media and socialization outside of the workplace though. It would require a re-thinking of the way we work and socialize.

There are also some down sides to telework. The biggest one is family intrusion. It takes family a while to realize that even though I’m in the house I’m “at work”. There is also the risk of distraction and lack of motivation.

The lack of distinction between at home and at the office can also be a problem for the worker who either doesn’t work enough (too much “at home”) or works too much (too much “at the office”).

Telework is an important step forward but there is a lot of education and mindset changes that need to happen before it can really work. Employees, employers and families all need to learn new ideas and there need to be new ways of measuring productivity rather than just hours on the job.

For organizations to realize the benefits of telecommuting there is probably a beautiful middle ground where meetings, check-ins and collaborations are set-up for both scenarios – dial in and live – allowing workers to make the best choice for themselves.

That seems to be the core issue – self empowerment of the workforce. It’s a good thing. Seems to be a great way to boost productivity.

Sometimes face2face is good but doesn’t need to be all the time. If we cut 50% of commuting that would help costs and the environment.

I agree with Andrew on the social consequences – it was the one thing that I missed when I left my last job to set up on my own however if people were only telecommuting part of the time then they would have some face time (and therefore social time) in the office. Maybe that way everyone wins.

In my case my new social network is picked up through Twitter, Facebook, IM etc – it is possible to be in contact and have a natter without being in the same room!