Commute To Work In Your Jammies

Thu., Feb. 15, 1996

Jim Springer Staff writer

Maybe the best way to commute to work is not to commute at all.

Instead, jump out of the traffic tide that washes in and out of the Valley every day; keep those furry slippers on and work at home for one or more days a week.

And you don’t have to feel as if you’re cheating. More and more companies are realizing that it’s in their best interest to encourage employees to work at home - or telecommute - whenever possible.

Telecommuting is the use of a telephone or computer at home to perform a day’s work, usually from one to three days per week, and it is growing in popularity as communications systems improve and become more prevalent.

You know you’d like to do it.

In fact, when workers are surveyed about how they would like to reduce commute trips, telecommuting ranks at the top, right up their with four-day work weeks, according to Melanie Rose, the Spokane County commute trip reduction coordinator.

Telecommuting is one of the means large companies around Spokane are promoting to help reach state goals for reducing commuter traffic, Rose says.

Spokane companies accommodate telecommuters in a range of degrees, from setting them up with a computer and home-office resources, to simply allowing them to stay home and read or write.

For people whose jobs permit it, and whose temperament is suited, it’s a win-win-and-win arrangement for employee, employer and the community as a whole, says Scott Decker, program manager for telecommuting at the Washington State Energy Office.

“Telecommuting is not new, but what is new is a lot of the reasons for it,” Decker said.

Companies are encouraging it to reduce demand for office space and office resources, to improve worker performance and productivity, to reduce employee turnover by improving morale and job satisfaction, and improve possibilities for hiring disabled, part-time or semi-retired workers, Decker said.

Employers who foster telecommuting also notice less sick leave and absenteeism and can save money on health care, training and parking, he said.

The entire community benefits from decreased traffic congestion, less fuel consumption and less air pollution, Decker says.

And workers themselves benefit by having more flexibility and independence, by saving time and money because they don’t commute as often, and by feeling better about themselves because of the trust shown in them.

Examples of jobs that are particularly suitable for telecommuting are research, word processing, writing, computer programming, data entry, drafting, editing, analysis, conducting business by phone, design work, evaluations, contract preparation and last but not least (some people are actually paid for this): thinking.

But there are those whose jobs would suit telecommuting but who decide it’s not for them. It takes a certain personality type to be a successful telecommuter. You need to be self-motivated, able to work independently and able set a productive work pace, Decker says. Good telecommuters are results oriented and adaptable to changing routines and environments. It’s also important to be a good communicator: since you won’t be seeing your colleagues on the days you’re at home, it’s important to keep in touch, whether by e-mail or on the phone.