Perceptions and Expectations: Why People Choose a Telecommuting Workstyle

Telecommuting creates a host of opportunities and challenges for managers and workers. Based on the results of a 26 semi-structured interviews, we explore individual’s motives underlying the decision to telecommute. In addition, our purpose was to investigate and understand the advantages and disadvantages of telecommuting from the worker’s perspective. References to advantages, disadvantages and motives in the interviews were extracted, categorized and prioritized. A similar procedure was performed on a sample of 40 articles on telecommuting concerning advantages and disadvantages. The liaterature categories were used as the context in which to discuss the research findings. Motivations to telecommute included: the relaxed atmosphere at home, cost savings, more time to spend with family, lack of a commute, and avoidance of office politics. Motivations to stay at the office included: the need for social interaction, career visibility, need for direct supervision, desire to separate home and work life.