Requirements of Teleworking
Teleworking can be a benefit to both the employee and the business employing him. A teleworker may work from home or from a satellite office closer to home than the office at which she was hired. The working arrangement may be full time, part time, just for the duration of a project or as a contract assignment. The requirements of teleworking can vary based on the employer's policies and the work situation.
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Teleworking Jobs
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Jobs most suitable for teleworking are those that have minimal to no face-to-face customer contact. Some white-collar and clerical jobs fall into this category where the job description involves working from a desk, typically using a computer and telephone. Teleworkers are sometimes required to sign an agreement stating when they will be at their desk.
Benefits
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The employee doesn't need to drive or take public transportation to work. When teleworking from home, the employee also has none of the disruptions that are common with working in an office situation, like people talking in the hallway outside the office. Not having to maintain an office attire wardrobe is a cost savings. Women who spend time doing their hair or applying makeup each morning if going into an office to work may find that they can skip that primping when working at home, saving time for other things.
The employer gains by not having to secure and pay for square footage, furniture and (sometimes) equipment. Inclement weather that could prevent other employees from getting to work will not be an issue for a home teleworker. The employer is not faced with absent or late employees because of transportation issues.
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Disadvantages
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Employees may feel secluded or miss the interaction of coworkers, even in a satellite office situation, where the employee might not have peers with whom to discuss work or enjoy personal conversations. If working from home, distractions like unexpected visitors or small children can be an issue. The disruptions felt in a business office---such as birthday parties, chatting in the break room or sharing the events of the past weekend--might be missed by the home teleworker.
For the manager, having an employee teleworking can present an issue of judging productivity. A strong trusting relationship needs to exist prior to commencing a teleworking job so the manager can feel more comfortable in believing the employee is actually working.
Dependent Care
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Caring for children or a sick or elderly relative may not be an issue for a teleworker who can perform work tasks or complete a job around family commitments. However, caring for dependents when working an employer-required specified time frame each day may not be acceptable by the employer except in emergency situations.
Equipment
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Teleworking from a satellite office is different from teleworking from home. At the satellite office, furniture and equipment will be provided for you. At home, you are generally required to obtain your own furniture and equipment. The company may provide you with a computer to use only for office work that may come with special security software installed to allow you to connect to the company's servers. You might need to provide yourself with telephone, desk, chair, filing cabinet, bookcase, phone, lamp, office supplies and copier, fax, printer (which may be an all-in-one piece of equipment).
Expenses
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Contract teleworkers are responsible for obtaining the government forms to directly pay state and federal income taxes and Social Security, and for finding and paying for health insurance; as self-employed individuals, contract teleworkers also pay the employer's portion of Social Security and Medicare. Teleworkers employed by a business will have income taxes deducted from their paycheck and may be offered group health insurance. The company-employed teleworker may also receive other benefits, like paid sick leave or holidays off. The contract worker will not be paid for time off work.
As a home teleworker, you are responsible for insuring your equipment, handling repairs and maintaining office supplies, like computer toner. Small expenses that are covered at the business office, like coffee, toilet paper and copier paper, will become your financial responsibility. You may also be required to obtain a separate phone line for business use.
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