It’s no secret telecommuting and working from home have become more common. Here’s the lowdown on just how they fit into the modern workplace.
Telecommuting’s key facts
The number of people telecommuting has risen between 60% and 79% since 2005, according to a recent piece in The New York Times, accounting for 3.2 million workers and 2.6% of the U.S. workforce.
More than 30% of 556 U.S. workers surveyed did most of their work away from the office, according to a new survey from Flex+Strategy Group/Work+Life Fit, Inc.
We know what you’re thinking: Most of those people are women with children, yes? Not quite.
While 79% of telecommuters do have children, the majority of people who work from home are men, according to both the Flex+Strategy Group/Work+Life Fit study and an infographic compiled by STC Services.
And contrary to popular belief, workers can be more productive when working from home. STC Services notes that creative people can be 20% more productive when working remotely.
The New York Times piece goes one further, noting that home-based staffers work 9.5% longer and are 13% more productive, citing a study conducted by a professor at Stanford University and China’s largest travel agency.
Do you offer telecommuting? If so, how does it work at your company, and what sort of challenges have you run into?
Let us know in the comments section below (and check out the full infographic while you’re at it):
