Remote Work

Remote work, also known as working from home or telecommuting, is an employment arrangement in which the worker is not obligated to go to a worksite such as an office. The worker is given the freedom to choose where he or she works, be it at home, at a library, at a café, or elsewhere. Those who work remotely may include telecommuting employees, who are known as telecommuters or teleworkers. Others who work remotely may work as contractors or freelancers for several companies at the same time, or long-term for one company. Small business owners may also choose to work from home to minimize the cost of renting an office space.

History

The term telecommuting was coined in 1973, just as technology was introduced that was able to link satellite or off-site offices to main offices through telephones lines that bridged the network. Technology continued to improve, computers became a mainstay in the workplace, and decreases in operating costs encouraged employees to do their work from home. Today, there is an extensive amount of hardware and software that supports telework, including videoconference programs, email, cloud computing, laptop computers, Wi-Fi networks, and smartphones. There are simply more methods of communication through which bosses, colleagues, or clients may be easily reached.

The Future of the Working World?

Working from home has gained popularity in recent years. Estimates suggest that up to 40% of American workers could work remotely, at least in a part-time arrangement. In 2011, the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that 24% of workers completed some or all of their work from home on the days that they worked. Self-employed workers, including contractors and freelancers, were far more likely to work from home, with 64% claiming to have done some or all of their work from home on the days they worked. More and more companies, especially those in the technology sector, are advertising flexible work schedules that allow employees to work where and when they want, as opposed to the traditional nine to five at an office or other specified worksite.

The Perks

Why has working remotely become so popular in recent years? The perks are hard to ignore. Firstly, a remote work arrangement offers flexibility that isn’t possible at the office.

A remote worker may look after his or her children during the day and work later at night when they are asleep. Without the obligation to go to the office everyday, he or she may be able to work while traveling. Other routine activities, such as picking up kids from school, doctor or dentist appointments, or going to the gym, needn’t be bothersome. The remote worker can work for a few hours at a time, take a break, and then go back to work. Most workers find this to be a more productive arrangement than working for seven hours at a stretch. The time spent commuting to the office is also reduced, freeing up more time for hobbies or family. Remote employees and freelancers also enjoy a higher degree of autonomy.