telecommuting

IT workers would take pay cut to telecommute

Mon, 16 Jun 2008 06:59:59 -0400

A new survey by Dice Holding has found that IT workers don't like commuting and in fact, 37 percent would be willing to take up to a 10 percent pay cut to work from home full time. With the high cost of gasoline, the time lost getting to and from work, and the flexibility it offers, telecommuting is beginning to look better every day.

And with improvements in personal computers, videoconferencing, and Internet speeds, many telecommuters can deal with virtually all of their tasks from a home office.

For more on telecommuting:
- see this InformationWeek.com article

Don't stay in the dark on telecommuting

Thu, 22 May 2008 06:59:58 -0400

There are a number of basic common sense rules to follow for any company that allows telecommuting, but none of them will work without the assistance and technical support from CIOs and their IT departments.

Baseline Magazine outlines 10 rules for how department managers should handle remote workers. For the IT department, it will mean setting up systems for group teleconferences; making sure employees have adequate broadband Internet service in their homes; helping them connect to office systems; insuring they use a common IM client for all internal communications and are hooked up to headquarters VOIP PBX system that will serve as their main business line.

For more on telecommuting:
- check out this Baseline Magazine article

ALSO NOTED: Plan 'B' for H-1B visa applicants; Reasons to fire your CIO;

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 07:59:58 -0400

> Plan 'B' for H-1B visa applicants. Article
> Reasons to fire your CIO. Article
> IT managers must get ready for the cold. Article
> How telecommuting can work for IT. Article
> No one wants to be a CIO. Article
> IBM: email, desktops and phones will disappear. Article

And Finally... Rich parents prefer Google. Article

Got burnout? Build a more flexible workweek

Thu, 30 Aug 2007 06:59:56 -0400

It turns out that consistent 50-60 hour work weeks are leading to burnout in the workplace. Go figure. That's why more and more companies are offering flexible work schedules. According to the recently released National Study of Employers, some 68 percent of organizations today are offering employees the option of working alternative schedules--by engaging in job sharing, telecommuting or by working non-traditional hours. Corporations adopting this new attitude include Best Buy, McGraw-Hill, Cisco and Deloitte. So what if you don't work in one of these enlightened workplaces? Consultant Lori K. Long, author of The Parents Guide to Family Friendly Work and adjunct professor of management at Baldwin Wallace College in Ohio, writes in CIO magazine that there are ways to build a case for breaking out of the 9-5 grind. "The best approach to take when asking your boss for a more flexible work arrangement is to keep your company's interests in mind. Think about how your request could benefit your company," she notes. A well thought out proposal should provide the following: an outline of your proposed work arrangement, an outline of how you will address changes in workloads, and compensation changes for less hours worked and necessary support resources. She also suggests using a trial period to test the new working situation and providing metrics to determine whether your new schedule is successful. These can be a handy pieces of advice for CIOs who want to create more options for talent they want to attract or retain.

To learn about building a flexible schedule for you or your employees:
- read the article in CIO

Flextime: The good, the bad and the ugly

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:01:39 -0500

While companies embracing flextime and other non-traditional working arrangements are generally lauded for their flexibility, the practice can have a downside for employers as well. The move toward flextime could force IT departments to build an infrastructure that allows staff to work more flexibly: leading to telecommuting risks, the vulnerability of accessible storage, and more.

For more on this:
- read the article at ITWeek

Protecting data from insecure home networks

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 19:01:38 -0500

While more and more employees are telecommuting, many of the home-based networks that those employees are using are configured improperly, leaving your company exposed to data breaches. To stem the tide, IT organizations should be involved in every aspect of setting up networks and computer systems for employees working from home. That involves knowing your options for home-based and small-office networks and choosing the right connections, providing telecommuters with the right applications, knowing when they will be accessing the network and providing iron-clad backup connectivity.

Read more about protecting your company against inadvertent data breaches:
- see the article at Computerworld

ALSO NOTED: VoIP alliance effort takes a step forward; Where the next Gates will be coming from; and much more...

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:01:33 -0500

> VoIP alliance effort takes a step forward. Article

> Where the next Gates will be coming from. Article

> SMBs still more than a bit wary of IP telephony security. Article

> Homeland security now boasts some savvy tech tools. Article

> Telecommuting can stagnate careers, say report. Article

And Finally... A sneaker with a little extra something. Article

ALSO NOTED: What's spurring the demise of the enterprise application?; One in eight adults addicted to the Net; and much more..

Wed, 18 Oct 2006 20:01:33 -0400

> What's spurring the demise of the enterprise application? Article

> One in eight adults addicted to the Net. Article

> The allure of RFID is roping in enterprises. Article

> AMD on a steady revenue track. Article

> As commuting time increases, telecommuting gets more attractive. Article

And Finally... Weed provides unique war camouflage. Article

ALSO NOTED: A guide to creating good passwords; The innovation factor in mobile display development; and much more...

Thu, 05 Oct 2006 20:01:33 -0400

> A guide to creating good passwords. Article

> The innovation factor in mobile display development. Article

> Wireless a big part of future federal telecom spend. Article

> Better technology making telecommuting more popular. Article

> Political strike action shuts down Indian outsourcing centers. Article

And Finally... The new 'smash and dash' in ATM thefts. Article

Sun makes virtual workplaces a reality

Thu, 21 Sep 2006 20:01:38 -0400

Sun Microsystems has embraced telecommuting and virtual offices in a huge way--selling off a campus that once housed 4,000 workers with 80 percent of the staff now working in a flexible office environment between home and other company buildings when necessary. As the new CIO explains, the virtual office strategy is beneficial for both the company and the employees, and it's one of the top reasons people want to work for Sun.

For more on making the virtual workplace work:
- read the interview at Computerworld