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Telecommuting can help your bottom line

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By Christopher Magan, Staff Writer Updated 10:54 AM Monday, July 20, 2009

Before 11 a.m. on a typical weekday Centerville resident Bob Romero will work around the globe solving computer network problems in places like China, England and Germany.

“If I was traveling to all the places I work, I’d be gone for months at a time,” said Romero, who does contract work for multinational companies through Cincinnati Bell.

Romero is a member of what is an ever growing work force that spends more and more time outside the traditional office setting performing duties from home offices or while traveling.

Chuck Wilsker, president of the Telework Coalition Washington D.C.-based advocacy group for telecommuters, said nearly half the current work force nationwide telecommutes in some way or another with 20 million doing so full-time and another 40 million working outside the office a few days a week.

The rise of cheap computers and widely available broadband Internet access nearly a decade ago has driven the trend allowing employees everything from off site e-mail access after hours to full fledged workdays from a home office.

“It really is technology that is driving this,” he said. “I would say that half the people working out there work somewhat independent of their office.”

As jobs in the U.S. shift from a manufacturing to information base, Wilsker believes more employers will allow employees to work outside the office because it just makes financial sense.

“If the majority of work is done on the phone or computer then why do you need to go somewhere to do it?” Wilsker asks.

Employers and workers both save. Reduced office space and increased productivity help companies and savings on gas, food and clothes fatten workers’ wallets.

LexisNexis is one Miami Valley employer encouraging off site work and program manager Matt Cegelis, of Bellbrook, began working from home about a year ago. “It just makes perfect business sense to have people work from home than to have office space,” said Cegelis who works with a team around the country providing virtual training courses.

He says the arrangement has made him more productive and helped his family life at the same time. “It has it’s obvious advantages. There’s no commute, no time wasted or the aggravation of it,” he said. “My office here at home allows me to put in more hours. It helps with the work/home life balance.”

Despite its positives, telecommuting has not been the savior for those who have lost jobs as the recession continues. Simply put, Wilsker, the telecommuting advocate said, job markets are tough all over.

“I see a lot more people looking for work than jobs that are available,” Wilsker said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2342 or cmagan@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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