How Telecommuting Can Make You Happier
What’s the Latest Development?
In early 2013, when a leaked internal memo from Yahoo explained that the company had lost effectiveness since allowing its employees to work remotely from home, some declared that the days of telecommuting were over for everyone. But Scott Boyar, Ph.D., associate professor at the UAB Collat School of Business, says such blanket judgements are difficult for businesses to make accurately. “The success of an employee working from home depends on the person, on the job and on the training the organization provides to do that role remotely,” Boyar said.
What’s the Big Idea?
Boyar identifies three important questions a business and employee should ask before deciding to telecommute:
• Does it fit my personality and preference for integrating work into my family environment?
• Can I structure my time and stay motivated to work throughout the day?
• Will I fight the temptation to want to skip workdays altogether?
If these can be answered in the affirmative, Boyar said telecommuting can be an excellent option for an employee looking to better balance the time spent working and the time spent with family. And this can lead to a happier employee base, which is a great asset for a company to have.
Photo credit: Shutterstock.com
