Telecommuting : Managing Off-Site Staff for Small Business

by GRENSING-POPHAL LIN

• ISBN13: 9781551803081
• ISBN10: 1551803089
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-12-01
• Publisher: Natl Book Network

Summary

Managing Off-Site Staff For Small Business. Does your business need more employees, but you don't have the office space to accommodate them? Does someone on your staff want to work from home? Do you want to promote a flexible work environment but fear losing profits? Telecommuting may be the answer. It can help you manage distance workers with confidence, set up an effective training and evaluation program, and provide flexibility while keeping your business on track. The book includes: Determining whether telecommuting is right for your company Assessing current and new telework candidates Training telemanagers and teleworkers Helping on-site staff to cope Communicating effectively Setting up the home office Measuring the success of your program Taking care of the legal details

Author Biography

Lin Grensing-Pophal, SPHR, writes business and employee management articles for general and trade publications and is the author of five books

Table of Contents

Foreword	xi
Introduction	xv
Telecommuting: What It Is and Why You Need to Know	1	(26)
Executive Summary	3	(2)
The Origins of Telecommuting	5	(2)
The Terminology of Telecommuting	7	(2)
The Trend Toward Telecommuting	9	(2)
The Growth of Telecommuting	11	(3)
Myths and Misconceptions	14	(2)
The Drawbacks and Challenges	16	(4)
For employers	16	(3)
For employees	19	(1)
The Benefits and Rewards	20	(4)
For employers	20	(2)
For employees	22	(2)
Case Study	24	(3)
Getting Started	27	(26)
Executive Summary	29	(2)
Which Jobs Are Best for Telework?	31	(5)
Is Your Business Ready for Telework?	36	(1)
Handling Resistance from Managers and Employees	37	(2)
What Resources are Required?	39	(9)
Office equipment and tools	40	(1)
Safety considerations	41	(7)
The Characteristics of a Successful Program	48	(1)
Case Study	48	(5)
Policies and Procedures	53	(14)
Executive Summary	55	(2)
Policy Considerations	57	(3)
Work hours	58	(1)
Work assignments	58	(1)
Evaluation	58	(1)
Salary and benefits	58	(2)
Overtime	60	(1)
Equipment	60	(1)
Documenting Your Policies and Procedures	60	(6)
Policy statement	60	(1)
Selection criteria	61	(1)
Expectations/responsibilities of telecommuters	62	(1)
Work schedules	62	(1)
Equipment and supplies	63	(1)
Insurance	64	(1)
Employer's right to inspect workplace	64	(1)
Privacy and confidentiality	64	(1)
Performance measurement	65	(1)
Company policies	65	(1)
Termination of the agreement	65	(1)
Employment-at-will disclaimer	65	(1)
Case Study	66	(1)
Hiring Existing Staff As Telecommuters	67	(18)
Executive Summary	69	(3)
Telecommuting Is Not for Everyone	72	(1)
Selection Criteria	73	(1)
Assessing Telework Candidates	74	(4)
Traits of Successful Teleworkers	78	(1)
Perils and Pitfalls	78	(4)
It just doesn't work	78	(3)
It's not fair!	81	(1)
My manager won't let me!	81	(1)
Case Study	82	(3)
Recruiting Telecommuters	85	(24)
Executive Summary	87	(3)
The Internet As a Recruiting Tool	90	(8)
Online recruiting sites	91	(3)
Effective online recruiting	94	(4)
Using your own Web site	98	(1)
Other Sources of Applicants	98	(1)
Steps in the Hiring Process	99	(7)
Position requirements	100	(3)
Selection criteria	103	(1)
Interviewing telecommuting candidates	104	(1)
References	105	(1)
Perils and Pitfalls	106	(1)
Case Study	107	(2)
Training Telecommuters and Their Managers	109	(20)
Executive Summary	111	(3)
Telecommuter Training	114	(4)
Characteristics of telecommuter training programs	114	(1)
A structure for telecommuter training	115	(2)
Making it real	117	(1)
Supervisor/Manager Training	118	(3)
An unnerving transition for managers	118	(1)
A structure for supervisory training	119	(2)
Supervisor's checklist	121	(1)
Team Training	121	(2)
Training the Rest of the Staff	123	(1)
After Training	123	(1)
Tips for Starting Telecommuters	124	(1)
Case Study 1	125	(2)
Case Study 2	127	(2)
Managing Telecommuters	129	(28)
Executive Summary	131	(2)
The Truth about Managing Telecommuters	133	(1)
Traits of Successful Telecommuter Managers	134	(2)
Setting Objectives	136	(5)
Establishing job standards	137	(2)
Establishing goals	139	(2)
Providing Feedback	141	(1)
Communication	142	(3)
The technology of communication	143	(2)
Maintaining Involvement	145	(2)
Motivating Telecommuters	147	(1)
If the Relationship Doesn't Work	148	(2)
Additional Tips for Managers of Telecommuters	150	(4)
Case Study	154	(3)
Program Outcomes	157
Executive Summary	159
Measuring Program Outcomes	161
Why Telecommuting Programs Fail	162
Case Study	165
Appendixes
1. Telecommuting proposal	169
2. Telecommuting policy	171
3. Telecommuter's agreement	181
4. Telecommuting agreement	183
5. Telecommuting resources	187