Josie Sephton
Interesting, if unsurprising. There was a lot of hype about the rise in teleworking, as maybe in some industries and some company types, that's been borne out, but for the rest of us... I know of companies where the work suits homeworking down to a tee, and where homeworkers are (purportedly) welcomed with open arms. The reality doesn't always match the company mantra though. Working shouldn't have to be about sitting at a desk, and making sure you ratch up your volume when the MD/CIO/HR director goes by. I've seen many an individual in the office doing browsing that would be hard pressed to link into any report they're working on. Presence in the offices doesn't equate to productivity. Having been a homeworker for 5+ years, it works for me. Downsides exist, but, identified and dealt with, they're no big deal. Currently technology makes homeworking truly feasible. But technology aside, if trust doesn't exist between employee and employer, if communication channels aren't open and honest, with clarity around what is and is not expected, if sound working processes aren't established, then get back into the office. But then, would you want to work for that type of company anyway?