Hack:
Telecommuting that empowers the knowledge based worker.

By Thanh Hoang

September 19, 2010 at 6:37pm

Moonshots

Reinvent the means of control

Take the work out of work

Build "natural", flexible hierarchies

Summary

Have you ever had a time where you felt you like you were stuck in a parking lot on your way to work? Have you ever felt the drag on the commute that may or may not already put more aggravation to an anticipated tough work day. I recall the dreaded days of working in Los Angeles in 2002 to 2004. 1.5 hours commute each way (despite being only 35 miles drive away). Others have it worst. The worst thing about the experience is that I feel I would've been more productive to do the job at home. Organization should recognize the frustration of commute and rising gasoline prices to allow some flexible of telecommute.

Problem

The rising real estate prices in the urban areas have shift a trend towards commutting and the expansion of suburban communities. This resulted in greater distance to and from work for the average worker. 40 to 70 miles became the norm as the demand for suburban houses grew and more affordable houses will being built on the outskirts of metropolitan areas. Overtime this created great congestion and traffic for various communities such as San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other cities.

Long commutes have created many problems for society as a whole.

Such problems include:

*Less time to spend with family.
*Higher costs of commute associated with rising gasoline prices.
*Frustration with traffic.
*Predictably of getting to work on time.
*Increasing driving exposure increases change of automobile accident.
*Decrease energy due to long periods of driving.
*Deteriorating the mind from generating good ideas.
*and many others.

Solution

Many organizations, especially knowledge based organizations, can realize a mutual benefit to their employees and to the organization by allowing the flexiblity to commute. Now some may question the agency problem and moral hazard of having less control over the employee. Such fix may require changes in how performance and results are based. Overall that is why the organization hired the employee in the first place, to achieve a result that benefits the organization. They can change their screening process and periodic reviews that is based on results.

This system will allow those who are more productive at the workplace to go to work. And those that are better off staying at home to stay at home. Some jobs are already frustrating as it is. Long commute will add to that frustration and eventually result in unstainable performance and employee turnover.

I recognize that not all jobs is beneficial to the organization if the commutter option is allowed. Such as production workers or jobs that requires varous physical interactions. However, there is a vast amount of jobs that are telecomummutable, based on many studies and opinion surveys. The organization should focus on jobs that can be telecommutable and give all employee options.

Practical Impact

Immediate Benefits to the employee:

*Employees save time from driving.
*Happier employees.
*Less stress.
*Employee with disability issues can be more productive.
*Save money on gas.
*Less risk to automobile accident.
*Productive.
*Empowerment.
*Less Distraction.

Immediate Benefits to the organization:

*Productive and energized workers
*Savings from less required real estate space
*Greater pool of potential employees
*Reliability
*Results driven
*Health workers
*Reduce need to outsource workers or jobs
*Improve employee retention
*Tax benefits

First Steps

Implement an employee based survey to identify the number of telecommutting interest within an organization.

Conduct a cost and benefits analysis of a telecommuter program.

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