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![[Housebound and Happy]](26lead.gif)
Nikita Agarwal
Imagine waking up in the morning, having a quick breakfast, and then reaching office in a matter of seconds…
That can be true - if you're office is just another room at home! With the increasing use of technology a desk, an office and colleagues are being replaced in many cases, by a laptop, email and instant messengers - a concept popularly known as teleworking. The commute from the bedroom to the office room eliminates an hour-long drive battling peak traffic. In a larger sense, a reduction in commuting means a decline in inner city pollution and congestion.
Teleworking in India: Just gaining a foothold?
According to this report the number of teleworkers in Europe has doubled in the past three years to 20 million. But despite its advantages, the idea is still not widely accepted in India.
"The concept just hasn't sunk in," says Nitin Shah, a teleworker who designs databases. "If you're at home, everyone thinks you are jobless or incompetent. And the traditional Indian family makes it very difficult to work from home; there's too much distraction and many demands on one's time and attention." Harshal Kulkarni, a programmer who works from home, feels this concept will succeed in India only when IT infrastructure is sufficiently advanced: "Internet access is still very expensive and speeds are poor."
"There are few, if any, reliable statistics on telework in India," remarks Noel Hodson, Director, The International Telework Association and Council (ITAC), "The official Indian statistics tell us that women form just a third of the "workforce" -- so where are the rest of them? I can find no mention of telework."
As with any other concept, teleworking has its drawbacks. People who work solely from home can feel isolated and 'out of the loop'. "Even if there's an effective communication system in which everyone inside and outside the traditional office is informed of the latest developments, much of the informal information sharing that provides context and perspective is not included in email, fax and telephone conversations. Even when colleagues collaborating across distances know and trust each other, they rarely communicate with the same depth and width as they would in face-to-face communication," says Neeta Mehta, who tried teleworking for a year and then switched to the traditional office.
But this can be countered: "Working from home should always be coupled with face-to-face meetings with other colleagues in an office or other shared space. Such meetings prevent teleworkers from losing their sense of belonging or feeling isolated," advises Singh.
Other disadvantages include the confidential nature of certain businesses, which prevents projects from being outsourced to teleworkers due to the risk of insecurity; and the high cost of starting up: buying a computer, printer and modem. In the West, these necessities are sometimes provided by the companies: Ford Motor Company said it was offering computers, printers and Internet access to every one of its 350,000 employees worldwide. Delta Air Lines Inc also announced a similar scheme for its 72,000 employees.
But Parvez Makki who works at an exports company feels that new organisations are insecure and not so advanced as to give laptops and connections to employees at home.
Having said that, there's no denying the advantages of working from home.
"It is widely agreed that teleworkers are more productive than office staff as they have a large degree of control over their environment. The additional responsibility of working unsupervised helps the home worker develop confidence. The strain of commuting is also removed, thus reducing stress levels," says Gita Singh, HR Manager at an MNC.
Pratik Sahni, a teleworker who designs brochures for the hospitality industry, reports: "I used to feel guilty just sitting back in the office and thinking about ideas, and felt the need to look busy all the time. Now I don't have to worry about how I get the job done, just so long as I do!"
Women in particular can benefit from teleworking. Gayatri Shah who does Web design for small businesses reflects: "Women are expected to look good in the office. But I can work in my tracksuit if I feel like it and I don't have to put on makeup when I'm working from home."
Another benefit: A teleworker can work through the night if required, and adjust social and family life around the flexible work schedule. "As each person's body clock functions differently, a teleworker can choose to work when energy levels are at his highest, resulting in increased productivity and efficiency. This results in a highly motivated workforce and low employee turnover," points out Singh.
For the employer, it means huge savings - Not just on office space, storage, electricity, equipment, salaries and paid leave, but also on recruitment and training, as a company can exploit skills that the teleworker acquired elsewhere.
Tools for a teleworker
The Internet has made a great difference in the life of a teleworker. Being online is extremely vital in maintaining contact with the team one is working with. This is where instant messengers help a lot. Most teleworkers operate with a phone line, fax machine and a Net connection. A printer may also be required. Select the latest gadgets that will serve your purpose while not drilling holes in your pockets.
From a simple telephone line to sophisticated remote-PCs, information on the tools required is available online.
The 'Telework Toolkit', an Internet-based software series, provides businesses with tools to help employees, contractors and vendors manage themselves better. The central product is OfficePilot, from within which a number of other support products can be launched.
You can find sample forms that provide guidelines regarding checklists, agreements and work schedules.
Undoubtably, the major part of teleworking is getting new assignments. Here's where organisations like the Telework Association (TCA) can be of help. The TCA looks out for work information and passes it on to members via the Teleworker magazine and its weekly online service. It also provides advice on how to approach teleworking, information on technology and examples of how people progress.
Tips for a teleworker
- Allocate a separate area at home for work.
- Put in regular hours, just like you would do at office. Blurring the lines between your work and home life might create problems.
- Make sure you get a good chair and desk.
- Preferably keep a separate line for work related calls.
- Try and meet your office team/ colleagues/ seniors at least once a week, so you do not feel completely isolated.
- Try and develop your work life in other ways, by taking time to update your skills regularly.
More Links:
Happy Homeworkers
Discussion forum
Teleworkers at loggerheads with office staff
Supervisor's toolkit for teleworking arrangements
Life as a telecommuter
Working from home
Working at home
Equipping a home office
How to manage a team of remote workers
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