Facility Guidelines
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If teleworkers only work away from the office a couple of days a week, what is the advantage of telework?
This question brings to the forefront the most important, and least recognized, advantage of telework – office space. Companies can plan for other office configurations as they experience increasing numbers of employees who telework. Typically casual or ad needed telework does not decrease the amount of office space unless teleworkers are out of the office more.The advantage is that telework on a long-term basis, can reduce office space if the organization is willing to reconfigure office use. [top^]
Should teleworkers expect the company to provide home office furniture or and home-office design services?
Some companies find that the ergonomic benefits of supplying at least some of the furniture for teleworker home-offices far outweigh the cost. If an employee teleworks part-time, the company may not feel obligated to provide these basics. If the company is serious about supporting their teleworkers, the research indicates that providing ergonomically correct furniture is a sound long-term investment. However, it is very atypical for companies to supply office design services. [top^]
What is the difference between telework and working in a virtual office?
Technically, the only distinction between telework and working in a virtual office is the way in which the worker teleworks. The term “virtual office” refers to employees who can complete their job duties virtually anywhere. Armed with technology tools as simple as a laptop, cell phone, or blackberry, an employee can work from a car, airplane, hotel room, or just about anywhere. A telework arrangement is usually defined by a person working at a select location away from the office (usually at home). In essence, one could say that a virtual office is just one form of telework. [top^]