BK
join:2001-09-10
Wheaton, IL | strange
I'd be interested in AT&T's and Intel's reasoning behind the reverse. |
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zed260
join:2007-09-30
Cleveland, TN | simple if you start telecommuting more ppl start to not know each other and we all turn into zombies its just not good for social ppl |
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amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
 ·Cox HSI
 ·magicjack.com
| reply to BK
said by BK  :I'd be interested in AT&T's and Intel's reasoning behind the reverse. I don't work at either company, but where I work we've had telecommuting for 4-5 years. The company began aggressively encouraging it a year or two ago as a way to save on real estate costs. I go 2-3 months at a time without going in the office and am considering taking off for South America for 3 months, working from there (something the article says may have been viewed as an abuse of the system).
Personally I don't like it. I like to come in the office, see coworkers. I think it creates a sense of engagement, purpose, team. I like the flexibility to do personal things during the day and work at night or the weekend (or to work from anywhere). But, after 2-3 months I don't feel like I'm really part of something.
Mark |
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DataDoc
My avatar looks like me, if I was 2D.
Premium
join:2000-05-14
Greenville, NC | reply to zed260
I'm sure that's why. :P
SBC acquired AT&T and their policy differs, read the link:
»AT&T's Telecommuting Crackdown
I don't agree with their policy, but you're off-base on their reasons. |
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amigo_boy
join:2005-07-22
Tempe, AZ
·Cox HSI
·magicjack.com
| reply to zed260
said by zed260 :simple if you start telecommuting more ppl start to not know each other and we all turn into zombies its just not good for social ppl Adding to what I said in an earlier post: Even though I can do personal things during the day (and make up for it nights and weekends), this leads to a loss of a sense of "on" and "off." It all blurs together. Phone calls at 6AM with Europe. 9PM with China. Even when running errands during the day I feel like I'm on the clock.
When I worked in the office I still put in a lot of time nights and weekends. But, going into the office helped establish a feeling of when I was "on the clock." When I worked from home at night, I felt like I was at home and doing something extra by choice.
Like someone else said, this is probably less of a problem for jobs like customer service with a real "shift."
Mark |
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jc100
join:2002-04-10
| Away but remoted into my pc and saw this topic. That's one point but the other is face time and people getting to know you. Those who are in an industry where telecommuting is accepted are at a huge disadvantage at times compared to those that go "into" work. I read somewhere that bosses get less exposure to you and that hurts when it comes time for promotion and raises. By being in the office, a boss is able to see what you do, how valuable you are to the company, etc. When you telecommute, he or she simply sees the work you do but not you doing it, if that makes sense. |
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major marco
Res Firma Mitescere Nescit
Premium
join:2003-02-13
Stepford, CA
clubs:
| reply to DataDoc
said by DataDoc :I'm sure that's why. :P SBC acquired AT&T and their policy differs, read the link: » AT&T's Telecommuting CrackdownI don't agree with their policy, but you're off-base on their reasons. Damn you, DataDoc, with your having read the article! 
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The Toll
Let's Go Flyers!
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Cabal
Premium
join:2007-01-21
Boston, MA
| reply to BK
They probably figure - correctly - that they can accomplish as much with half the staff located in the office. Most telecommuters suck.
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Interested in open source engine management for your Subaru? |
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Old_Grouch
Don't just sit there silly DO something
Premium
join:2004-05-26
Greenwood, IN
clubs:
 ·AT&T Midwest
| reply to BK
They (SBC at&t or whatever name they choose) started backing off before I retired years ago.
Marketing types did and still walk around spouting the benefits and savings to having people work from home.
One of their (sbc) largest customers even pushed sbc to allow them to pay employees' dsl or second line at residential rates so they could take advantage of the work at home savings. Doesn't sound like much unless you understand the telco paranoia about billing residential service to a business (corporate) name.
Internal to the company (proof they are bi-lingual) they got real scared when they realized they were supposed to manage people they couldn't see. That was the death knell...managers (especially the underemployed middle management) were scared by the loss of power and direct supervision of legions of employees.
They've still got middle managers. And, they have fewer telecommuters. Who won?
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At Team Discovery we know how to get more outta that danged 'puter of yours!
If you paid taxes it's a rebate. If you didn't, it's welfare. |
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Roadywan
| reply to major marco
If you think that's bad...
Read the SBC Internet/Email policy...and then realize that they're serious about "non-work related activity". |
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averagedude
join:2002-01-30
Mesa, AZ
·Cox HSI
| reply to jc100
Re: strange
Even more important with the economy going in the tank.
I want to make sure I hold on to my job.
Face time = keeping job, showing I am willing to work hard in keeping my job.
Yea, it costs me big $ in gasoline, but rather have job.
Telecommuting is great when the economy is great.
This averagedude is watching his back and making sure he is not part of the next round of lay off's. |
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jester121
join:2003-08-09
Lake Zurich, IL
 ·surpasshosting
·ViaTalk
| reply to zed260
said by zed260 :simple if you start telecommuting more ppl start to not know each other and we all turn into zombies its just not good for social ppl My office is chock full of zombie-like people and I don't like it one bit. |
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Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
San Jose, CA
·Comcast
·SONIC.NET
| reply to amigo_boy
said by amigo_boy :said by zed260 :simple if you start telecommuting more ppl start to not know each other and we all turn into zombies its just not good for social ppl Adding to what I said in an earlier post: Even though I can do personal things during the day (and make up for it nights and weekends), this leads to a loss of a sense of "on" and "off." It all blurs together. Phone calls at 6AM with Europe. 9PM with China. Even when running errands during the day I feel like I'm on the clock. That feeling of being on the clock can be self-programmed out of you, even though it does initially come up before such self re-programming. After your reprogramming, you can feel perfectly comfortable not doing any work in the middle of the day while on full salary.
Add in some increased discipline about making sure both you and your company get their fair share of each other's resources, and you're set. A few months at most should be all it takes for incorrect feelings to be corrected, if you are attentive to your internal feelings and control reshaping of them. Also, it is more than just "feelings"; your own motivations and all else that goes on in your brain regarding the issue are included in this.
I like your feedback, though. |
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Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
San Jose, CA
·Comcast
·SONIC.NET
| reply to jc100
said by jc100 :Away but remoted into my pc and saw this topic. That's one point but the other is face time and people getting to know you. Those who are in an industry where telecommuting is accepted are at a huge disadvantage at times compared to those that go "into" work. I read somewhere that bosses get less exposure to you and that hurts when it comes time for promotion and raises. By being in the office, a boss is able to see what you do, how valuable you are to the company, etc. When you telecommute, he or she simply sees the work you do but not you doing it, if that makes sense. Yes, it does. Compensation for that problem can include inviting your boss to the movies on your few in-office days. Don't most telecommuting programs include a provision for one or two days a fortnight to go in, such as once per week? You schedule around your boss's off-time schedule and get to know them personally. Then they can't forget you!
Granted, you should both have appropriate home lives for that kind of comradery, but so how hard is that? |
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Ulmo
join:2005-09-22
San Jose, CA
·Comcast
·SONIC.NET
| reply to amigo_boy
said by amigo_boy :said by BK :I'd be interested in AT&T's and Intel's reasoning behind the reverse. I don't work at either company, but where I work we've had telecommuting for 4-5 years. The company began aggressively encouraging it a year or two ago as a way to save on real estate costs. I go 2-3 months at a time without going in the office and am considering taking off for South America for 3 months, working from there (something the article says may have been viewed as an abuse of the system). Personally I don't like it. I like to come in the office, see coworkers. I think it creates a sense of engagement, purpose, team. I like the flexibility to do personal things during the day and work at night or the weekend (or to work from anywhere). But, after 2-3 months I don't feel like I'm really part of something. Mark Is this even after participatory mailing lists, conferences, pictures of each other and each others' projects and personal lives, and general communications of each other personally, or has that been eliminated due to some aborted concept that it is not necessary? |
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