Telecommuting
Telecommuting is a flexible work arrangement which allows employees to work from outside the central workplace. This is usually at home or at a satellite office, and can be for all or a portion of a work week, done occasionally or regularly. If done regularly, it generally involves the worker using technology such as a computer with access to the organisation’s network or a smart phone that can access work email, however this is not essential. It is possible to telecommute on an occasional basis to undertake particular tasks which may not require network access, such as research, report writing, preparing correspondence, submissions, advice work, and planning.
Telecommuting is particularly well-suited to staff who can work autonomously, and do not require close supervision or interaction with other team members.
It is understood that setting up the equipment and technology that may be required to work from home may not match the timelines required for this project. However, wherever possible staff who want to telecommute during this study may be able to undertake assignments that do not require network access.
Organisations should comply with any existing working from home policies and be aware that the issues they need to consider include:
- security of information whilst outside of the mainstream workplace
- health and safety — a workplace health and safety assessment is generally required to ensure an ergonomic set up of home computer equipment and other office furniture
- management and supervision of employees should be performance-, rather than attendance-based. Performance-based management looks at quality, timeliness and quantity of work rather than time spent in the office.
Links
Federal government TravelSmart resource on telecommuting*
Telecommuting guide from the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations*
Related information
- Manager guidelines (PDF**, 150KB)
- Manager checklist (PDF**, 107KB)
- Participant guidelines (PDF**, 170KB)
- Frequently asked questions (PDF**, 123KB)
- Step by step process (flowchart) (PDF**, 208KB)
- Definitions (PDF**, 98KB)
- Poster — pilot program (PDF**, 363KB)
- Poster — forum (PDF**, 238KB)
- Further reading (PDF**, 136KB)
Related links
**While this department has taken every possible precaution with the creation of these files, they are downloaded and used at your own risk. Adobe Reader is needed to open and print Portable Document Format (PDF) files and is free to download from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html. Various tools to enable access to these files for people using a screen reader can be found at http://access.adobe.com. Further information is available from the "Help with downloading, reading and printing PDF".
*The content found by using this link is not created, controlled or approved by this department. No responsibility is taken for the consequences of viewing content on this site. This link will load into a new window.
Last updated 21 August 2009
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