远程办公(Telecommuting)

telecommuting--substitutingthecomputerforthetriptothejob----hasbeenhailedasasolutiontoallkindsofproblemsrelatedtoofficework.

forworkersitpromisesfreedomfromtheoffice,lesstimewastedintraffic,andhelpwithchild-careconflicts.formanagement,telecommutinghelpskeephighperformersonboard,minimizestardinessandabsenteeismbyeliminatingcommutes,allowsperiodsofsolitudeforhigh-concentrationtasks,andprovidesschedulingflexibility.insomeareas,suchassoutherncaliforniaandseattle,washington,localgovernmentsareencouragingcompaniestostarttelecommutingprogramsinordertoreducerush-hourcongestionandimproveairquality.

butthesebenefitsdonotcomeeasily.makingatelecommutingprogramworkrequirescarefulplanningandanunderstandingofthedifferencesbetweentelecommutingrealitiesandpopularimages.

manyworkersareseducedbyrosyillusionsoflifeasatelecommuter.acomputerprogrammerfromnewyorkcitymovestothetranquiladirondackmountainsandstaysincontactwithherofficeviacomputer.amanagercomesintohisofficethreedaysaweekandworksathometheothertwo.anaccountantstayshometocareforhersickchild;shehooksuphertelephonemodernconnectionsanddoesofficeworkbetweencallstothedoctor.

thesearepowerfulimages,buttheyarealimitedreflectionofreality.telecommutingworkerssoonlearnthatitisalmostimpossibletoconcentrateonworkandcareforayoungchildatthesametime.beforeacertainage,youngchildrencannotrecognize,muchlessrespect,thenecessaryboundariesbetweenworkandfamily.additionalchildsupportisnecessaryiftheparentistogetanyworkdone.

managementtoomustseparatethemythfromthereality.althoughthemediahaspaidagreatdealofattentiontotelecommutinginmostcasesitistheemployeessituation,nottheavailabilityoftechnologythatprecipitatesatelecommutingarrangement.

thatispartlywhy,despitethewidespreadpresscoverage,thenumberofcompanieswithwork-at-homeprogramsorpolicyguidelinesremainssmall.