What Is Telecommuting?

Telecommuting refers to a flexible work arrangement where employees can complete their work responsibilities from a location other than a centralized office. This could involve working from home, a co-working space, or another branch of the organization. Telecommuting allows individuals to connect to their workplace using technology such as email, messaging, phone, chat and video apps.

Telecommuting Definition

The differences between telecommuting and remote working are quite subtle.

Someone who telecommutes is working out of the office, but connected to the business digitally through their comms tools.

Telecommuting is generally more of an occasional deal, or done on more of a part-term basis.

To fully understand the definition of telecommuting, it helps to look at it in the context of the other terms that are very closely related to it, remote work and work from home. 

Remote work – you can work from anywhere in the world. Find out more here – What Is Remote Work? Whereas telework often requires some in office attendance 

Work from home, – you are located at your home undertaking your work. Find out more here – What Is WFH?. Whereas teleworking can be done from your home, a cafe, library, wherever you’d like.

So you can see how telecommuting offers a bit more freedom than work from home, when it comes to location, but a bit less than remote as in office attendance is often a part of it.

Types Of Telecommuting

• Full-time or regular telecommuting. allows a worker to dedicate each scheduled workday to tasks completed from a home office or another distant setting, like a coffee shop. This arrangement is well-suited for individuals who need minimal supervision, possess a reliable internet connection, and feel at ease using virtual work tools from any location.
• Part-time telecommuting. Involves employees opting for a hybrid approach, dividing their work hours between home and the company’s office. For example, an employee might work three days remotely and spend the remaining two days in the office.
• Temporary or special arrangement telecommuting. Involves working remotely for a short duration, such as during extended periods of inclement weather, a natural disaster, or while recuperating from an illness.
• Freelance telecommuting is predominantly chosen by freelancers or independent contractors who aren’t full-time employees of a company.

Benefits Of Telecommuting

1. Reduced Commute Stress
2. Flexibility And Work-Life Balance
3. Cost Savings
4. Increased Productivity
5. Improved Accessibility 

Disadvantages Of Telecommuting

1. Technology Issues
2. Communication Challenges
3. Distractions 
4. Isolation 
5. Blurred Work-Life Boundaries

Telecommuting Jobs

With digital transformation reshaping the traditional structure of how work is undertaken, there are now more and more jobs that can be done without the need to be in the office 5 days a week. Some of the most common telecommuting jobs are:

1. Software Developer/Programmer: Many software development tasks can be done remotely, making this a popular telecommuting job.
2. Content Writer/Copywriter: Writing jobs, such as content creation, blogging, and copywriting, often allow individuals to work from home.
3. Graphic Designer: Graphic design work can be done remotely, collaborating with clients and team members online.
4. Virtual Assistant: Administrative tasks, scheduling, and customer service can be managed remotely, making virtual assistants in demand.
5. Customer Support Representative: Many companies hire remote customer support representatives to assist customers via phone, email, or online chat.
6. Social Media Manager: Handling social media accounts, creating content, and managing online presence can often be done remotely.
7. Online Tutor/Teacher: With the rise of online education, teaching and tutoring jobs can be conducted from home.
8. Data Entry Specialist: Data entry tasks are often computer-based, making them suitable for telecommuting.
9. Marketing Specialist: Digital marketing roles, including SEO, content marketing, and email marketing, often allow for remote work.
10. Sales Representative: Some sales roles involve virtual communication and can be performed remotely.

Conclusion

If you’re thinking of moving to a telecommuting job or you’d like to look into just working from home or even getting a bit more adventurous and going fully remote, make sure you research the type of work available and the pros and cons.

Speaking to friends and family in similar positions is a great way to understand if it’s the right path for you.