Defining Telework

Telework means work from a distance although it has many forms and labels, including remote access, remote work, mobile work, e-work, telecommuting, working from home and more. The word has also been 'defined' in many different ways. Some definitions have been created by academics, some accentuate the role of technology and some focus only on workers based in home offices. Such definitions can be useful to those who wish to study the subject but they fail to recognise the breadth of the telework concept.

A more useful definition, based on what successful telework actually looks like, in a corporate setting, is:

Maximising profit and productivity by enabling, supporting and effectively
managing the performance of work in non-traditional work places

Flexibility is an important survival tool in an uncertain world. Telework initiatives that maximise profit and productivity by enabling, supporting and effectively managing the performance of work in non-traditional work places, are a critical tool in creating such flexibility. Each of us can decide what 'profit and productivity' and 'work' mean in our own contexts: the important thing is that telework has to be effectively planned and managed.

It's also important to remember that:

• Telework is 'not technology-driven although it can be technology-enhanced' (Gil Gordon);
• It is not all about the home, there are many possible 'non-traditional' work places; 
• It is not always full-time. Most Australian teleworkers work away from the traditional office for only a day or so a week;
• It is not always easy to implement and might require some hard decisions on all sides; and
• Telework will not be right for some individuals due to the nature of their role or their personality. Neither will it be an appropriate tool for some organisations due to the nature of their business (e.g. hotels, retail business or manufacturing).