Benefits for individuals

Telework offers many benefits for individuals:

Productivity: In the Sensis 2005 report based on research of Australian small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs), 24 per cent of teleworkers reported higher productivity. Similarly, over 70 per cent of teleworkers in Southern New England Telephone’s initiative claim they are significantly more productive. That means teleworkers do more in less time—saving time or earning more in the same time.

Time savings: If you didn't have to commute every day you could use the time you saved in pursuing other activities. For example, more work, more family time or more sleep.

Cost savings: Savings can be made from not having to spend as much on vehicle fuel and maintenance or public transport, lunches, work clothes and more.

Improved health: Avoiding the possibility of sick building syndrome, traffic accidents and stress, could mean that teleworkers experience improved health.

Home and family: Improved work-life balance is often experienced by teleworkers. Being able to spend more time with the family or having greater flexibility to care for dependent relatives is the major reason many choose to telework. It is an important benefit.

Taking control: Teleworkers can take control, not only over when and where work is performed but also over many aspects of their non-work lives.

Better parks and urban environments: As telework becomes more common, there can be less pressure on inner city parking and parks. Central business districts could become more attractive.

Enhanced security: While working at home, it is possible to keep an eye on your neighbour's house—and they could return the favour. Neighbourhood watch takes on a completely new meaning.

Flexibility: Showing visitors around, coping with a new baby, handling illness or injury, the flexibility telework can bring can make it all easier.

Although many individuals have reported benefits from telework, some have also identified possible challenges:

Isolation: For many people, working on their own becomes lonely. Teleworking on only some days a week or working in a telecentre can help solve this. There are other solutions, but the first step is to recognise the potential for loneliness early.

Slower connections: Residential and rural areas do not generally get the kind of technology support and services that inner city offices do and where high-speed connections are available, they can be expensive. If your chosen work requires high bandwidth, think carefully about whether a home office is right for you. Perhaps a nearby telecentre could help.

Distractions: Whether it is a neighbour, a spouse, a child, the lawn-mowing, the laundry, the television or the fridge, there will be distractions in the home office. How you handle them is up to you but the first step is to recognise that they could wipe out all your productivity gains.

There are two things that telework is NOT:

• Telework is not a cheap and easy form of child-care. If you have young children, it is important to plan for child-care at the times you have to work.
• Telework is not a good excuse to take it easy—to play golf all day instead of work. You still have to do the work.