There’s television, Teletubbies and now teleworking… Well, it has been around for a while now, but it is rising in popularity and awareness. Is it similar to remote work? Yes, but it is not exactly the same. So, we’re going to cover what is telework, and how the teleworking meaning differs from remote work. We’re also going to dive into how to make telework work for you and your team!
In this teleworking guide:
Teleworking meaning: what is telework!
Teleworking is nothing new. In fact, it’s been around since the 1940s! What is telework? It is the act of working from a location that isn’t your physical place of business.
Telework vs Telecommute vs Remote? What’s the difference?
What is teleworking? It is remote work. Teleworking is one type of telecommuting. There are many different types of telework and telecommuting. Let’s get into the differences between the most common types of working at a distance.
Telework vs telecommuting: what’s the difference!
Is telework the same at telecommute? There are many different types of telework and telecommuting. Teleworking can be broken up into two primary categories:
– Home office. A home office is where you work at your existing place of business, but do so outside of normal working hours.
– Remote work. This is the act of working from another physical location than your own. This includes working outside of your existing place of business (for example, at a co-working space or coffee shop).
Telecommute vs remote work: what’s the difference!
Working remotely generally involves much more all-around than just having a home office setup to work in whilst not completing any assigned tasks for an employer – like making sure to email team members when it is outside of “normal” working hours.
Telecommute vs remote work: what’s the difference?
Telecommuting is one form of remote work. Working at home, while your employer may be aware that you do so and even encourage it, isn’t always actual telework. Working at home situation usually means carrying out tasks in exactly the same manner as if they were being completed at your existing place of business – for example, by logging into an email and completing assigned tasks online.
History of teleworking and telework
When did teleworking first begin, and when did it become popular? Teleworking has been around for a while. Exactly when telework entered the mainstream workforce is somewhat difficult to pinpoint, but it probably was before the 1980s. Movements are currently being made in support of human rights, meaning that employers are not allowed to discriminate against employees who choose to work at home.
Some well-known companies to use employ people in a telework capacity include IBM, Cisco, and a large number of IT companies.
Which jobs are most suited to telework?
Do all jobs allow for teleworking? No, not every job is suitable for telework or telecommuting. There are, however, several common types of jobs that go well with a team who work from home:
– Customer service representatives. These employees typically help customers to solve their problems over the phone, meaning there isn’t much need to be physically present at an office location.
– Software developers and technical support staff. Employees in these roles typically need to be accessing development servers or providing technical assistance to users via chat or email – this can easily be done outside of a direct office setting.
– Freelancers and consultants. Workers in these types of roles typically work on an independent basis, meaning their job is not tied to any specific employer – allowing them to telecommute.
Teleworking statistics
So, we’ve covered the teleworking meaning, let’s get into some staggering statistics about teleworking!
– Almost half of the teleworkers were not just given the option to telework, they were actively encouraged and supported by their employers.
– More than half of teleworkers were able to work at home during inclement weather.
– 61% of employers who didn’t allow employees to telework cited reasons such as loss of employee productivity, increased costs, and security concerns.
– Only 22% of employers felt that teleworking would not impact their business in any way.
– Most teleworkers are employed in the IT field, whilst non-IT sector employees were less likely to telework.
– Telecommuters were more satisfied with their jobs than non-telecommuters. Also, teleworking employees were found to be 28% more productive.
– Countries with the highest rates of teleworking include 8.5% in India, 9.7% in Japan, 10.3% in Ukraine, 11.2% in Russia, 14.4% in Greece, 18.7% in Turkey, 23%-25%, which is more than 50 million workers! In Canada around 12%-15%, the US – 5%-6%.
– Over a third of American employees – roughly 37% – work at least one day per week from home.
– As many as 2 million Americans currently telework on a full-time basis – that’s about 1 in 20 people who telework on such a regular basis.
– 61% of workers who telecommute say they are more satisfied with their jobs than those who don’t telecommute.
So, those are a lot of stats. As we can see from the above statistics, teleworking is a popular concept amongst employees and employers alike.
Future of teleworking and telework
As more and more workers turn to a freelance lifestyle, it’s becoming increasingly necessary for employers to provide their staff with the opportunity to work remotely. It makes sense – why incur added expenses in office space when you could be allowing your employees to work from home? Workers are typically paid the same rate regardless of where they’re completing tasks, which is great news for everyone involved!
Employers may find that teleworking allows them to save costs on employee benefits such as insurance, retirement plans, mobile phone plans, medical care or even time spent commuting. Teleworking can also help ease environmental concerns by reducing travel-related CO2 emissions. This leaves less stress on our environment while helping to create a greener economy. The future of telework and telecommuting is looking bright – if you’re considering joining the teleworking trend, there’s never been a better time!
How to make telework work for you? Strategies, tips, and habits
So, now you’re crystal clear on what is telework. Let’s cover how to make teleworking work for you! Here are some excellent tips, tricks, strategies, and daily habits you can use to make this working arrangement support your career goals.
– Outline your expectations and your employer’s expectations. This will help to remove any confusion, particularly in cases where telework is a new concept – both parties need to be aware of what is expected of them.
– Employers can set requirements for employees who telework. Some examples include requiring workers to use their mobile devices for business purposes only, limiting the usage of social networks during work hours, not allowing at-home meetings with customers or clients, placing limits on the number of people that may telecommute, or establishing deadlines for completing tasks.
– Keep yourself organized! Whether you’re working from home or office space, you’ll need to stay productive if you want this arrangement to benefit your career goals. It’s important that you stick to a daily schedule and ensure that you get enough hours in each day to properly complete your tasks.
– Think about what type of work environment will allow you to be most productive. If you’re working from home, it’s important that the general atmosphere is quiet – no distractions! You may wish to purchase a pair of noise-canceling headphones if this will help.
– Locate an office space outside of your home where you can go when needed. It might be helpful for employees who telecommute to have access to a nearby ‘hub’ where they can meet face-to-face with customers or clients. This may also function as a place where workers can socialize or brainstorm new together.
– Be open to the idea of working from a communal office space. If you’re going into an environment where teleworking is popular, it’s important that you’re ready and willing to work in a group setting. This may be a little different than what you’re used to, but with a positive attitude and some flexibility, this type of arrangement can benefit most businesses.
– Keep your security personal habits in mind! Be sure that you use strong passwords on all devices connected to your network, ensure your mobile phone plan has adequate data usage limits per month so as not to incur overage fees, use strong antivirus software programs on any computer or device connected to your network – just be aware of how much time you spend away from the office and how much time you spend surfing the web while teleworking.
– Try to work a full day! It’s important that employees who telework make a conscious effort to complete a full day’s worth of work each day. Employers may be more likely to monitor your time spent working remotely, so it’s best not to get caught slacking off.
– Choose one or two days per week where you get together with others who telecommute. This will help you feel connected and get rid of that feeling that your co-workers don’t really know what you do all day long – they’ll have access to your progress reports, after all! Also, keep in mind the tips mentioned above related to choosing an office space outside of your home.
– Take a firm grasp of the concept of telecommuting success. The most successful teleworkers are those who have a strong sense of autonomy and purpose in their work. These individuals take pride in what they do, and their managers can feel confident that they’re always getting their money’s worth from employees who telework.
Ugh! I know what you’re thinking – another tedious assignment to complete for your boss or professor. You still think teleworking is about working from home, spending time with your family, or simply goofing off while you pretend to be “working.” Guess what? Cha-ching! You just made $5! Now it’s your turn to spread the wealth around (and hopefully save some people from being duped by teleworking myths).
What is telework: final thoughts
So there you have it! You’re officially a telework expert. Congrats! Don’t lose your newfound wisdom – share it with others who might need some clarity on the subject. Let’s quickly wrap up the important points of this article:
– Teleworking is a fancy way of saying you work from home or some other remote location.
– It’s important to stick to a daily schedule and make sure that you get enough hours in each day to properly complete your tasks.
– A telework arrangement benefits employees who stick to a busy schedule and manage their time wisely.
– Employees should choose an office space outside of their home that will suit them best, whether it’s quiet or somewhere where they can socialize with others.
– Keep security personal habits in mind – use strong passwords on all devices connected to your network, ensure your mobile phone plan has adequate data usage limits per month so as not to incur overage fees, and use a strong antivirus program!
