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1 – 10 of over 1000
Article
Publication date: 1 January 2000

Mohammad Ahmadi, Marilyn M. Helms and Tammy J. Ross

This paper examines the concept and the implementation of telecommuting and how it will affect the employee, organization and the general business environment. It also provides…

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Abstract

This paper examines the concept and the implementation of telecommuting and how it will affect the employee, organization and the general business environment. It also provides suggestions for employers implementing a telecommuting program. In this new millennium, it is obvious that the workforce and the way of work are changing drastically. Telecommuting, or allowing the employees to perform their jobs away from the central or primary business location, is increasing. While many jobs have some aspects that may lend themselves to telecommuting, white‐collar jobs that require a great amount of independent work are the most suitable for telecommuting. The paper also discusses the importance of selecting the right employees for telecommuting.

Details

Facilities, vol. 18 no. 1/2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0263-2772

Keywords

Book part
Publication date: 2 October 2003

David G Allen, Robert W Renn and Rodger W Griffeth

As more companies and employees become involved in telecommuting, researchers and managers will need to understand the effects of this relatively new working arrangement on the…

Abstract

As more companies and employees become involved in telecommuting, researchers and managers will need to understand the effects of this relatively new working arrangement on the work perceptions and behaviors of the individual telecommuter. The extant empirical literature provides mixed results and is limited by a lack of theory; consequently, neither researchers nor managers can rely on this literature for clear direction on how telecommuting will likely affect individual telecommuters. There is a critical need for theoretical frameworks to guide research on how telecommuting may affect the telecommuter’s job perceptions, working relations, and work outcomes. We present a multi-dimensional framework of telecommuting design, and focus on how telecommuting design may affect the telecommuter’s work environment and outcomes through its effects on the social system of the telecommuter, autonomy and self-management opportunities and requirements, and role boundaries, particularly in terms of the work and non-work interface. Our goal is to provide a framework to assist managers and researchers in systematically addressing questions of how to design telecommuting arrangements to maximize their potential benefits while minimizing their potential drawbacks.

Details

Research in Personnel and Human Resources Management
Type: Book
ISBN: 978-1-84950-174-3

Article
Publication date: 28 August 2023

Shahina Javad, Priyanka Nema and Nimit Chowdhary

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many working mothers in India adopted involuntary telecommuting work option for the first time. However, no research explored their adjustments and…

Abstract

Purpose

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many working mothers in India adopted involuntary telecommuting work option for the first time. However, no research explored their adjustments and experiences in the new work setting. This paper aims to gain an in-depth understanding of Indian working mothers' lived experience of involuntary telecommuting.

Design/methodology/approach

A phenomenological research design was adopted. The authors conducted 14 in-depth, semi-structured telephonic and online interviews. Data were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis framework.

Findings

The data analysis yielded two interconnected superordinate themes in this research: (1) characteristics of involuntary telecommuting and (2) the impact of involuntary telecommuting. Under the first theme, four sub-themes emerged: long working hours, increased family demands, reduced interaction with coworkers and technology-enabled communication with supervisors. The second theme comprised five sub-themes: time-based work interference with family, time-based family interference with work, strain-based family interference with work, absence of emotional and professional support and performance management concerns. Involuntary telecommuting mothers faced challenges due to lack of control over their daily work schedule and demands, along with an increased burden of unpaid household work, leading to difficulties in managing their work schedule and negotiating their professional role identity within the family. These findings emphasize that working mothers who participated in involuntary telecommuting encountered bidirectional time-based conflicts and unidirectional strain-based conflict.

Research limitations/implications

The study examines a particular subset of women telecommuters who were working mothers with young children. These potential limitations are to be addressed in future research.

Practical implications

The findings suggest that managers should develop HR policies and telecommuting ecosystems in order to enhance effectiveness of telecommuting. Specifically, organizations offering telecommuting work options should create opportunities for informal interaction among peers and formal one-to-one interaction with managers. Moreover, HR managers should develop and implement employee-friendly telecommuting policies.

Social implications

The research contributes to HRM and gender literature.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the discourses of work-life balance, workplace relationships and work policies within telecommuting literature.

Details

Employee Relations: The International Journal, vol. 45 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0142-5455

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 10 May 2023

Kwesi Amponsah-Tawiah, Justice Mensah and Nana Kojo Ayimadu Baafi

This study aims to examine the relationship between telecommuting and cyberloafing among Ghanaian workers. In addition, the study investigated the moderating role of emotional…

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine the relationship between telecommuting and cyberloafing among Ghanaian workers. In addition, the study investigated the moderating role of emotional exhaustion on telecommuting and cyberloafing.

Design/methodology/approach

The study collected quantitative data from 945 employees in banks, telecommunication and insurance sectors of the Ghanaian economy. Data was entered using SPSS v.23 and analysed with Process Macro v3.5.

Findings

The results indicate that there is a significant positive relationship between telecommuting and cyberloafing. It also found out that emotional exhaustion has a significant negative relationship with cyberloafing. Furthermore, emotional exhaustion moderated the relationship between telecommuting and cyberloafing. Organisations are not necessarily required to be in a particular location to achieve their goals. Through practices such as telecommuting, organisations are able to unleash the creative and innovative abilities of employees and also improve their psychological well-being for greater gains.

Practical implications

The practice of telecommuting psychologically empowers the individual giving some decision-making latitudes to one and making one responsible and accountable for their actions and inactions. Also, individuals who are giving the chance to telecommute will only engage in cyberloafing behaviours when they are emotionally exhausted. Thus, it is important to create conditions that establishes equilibrium and creates harmony between the individual and the work, hence eliminating any feeling of emotional exhaustion and reaping the full benefits of telecommuting.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the role of emotional exhaustion in the relationship between telecommuting workers and their engagement in cyberloafing.

Details

Organization Management Journal, vol. 20 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 2753-8567

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 November 2022

Mark Podolsky, Mary Jo Ducharme and Christa McIntyre

This study examines whether group-level homogeneity in telecommuting status is associated with performance differences between teleworkers and non-teleworkers at the individual…

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines whether group-level homogeneity in telecommuting status is associated with performance differences between teleworkers and non-teleworkers at the individual level. The authors further investigate the impact of group-level task interdependence on this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

A group of 225 employees in 41 work groups were surveyed, and employee performance data from the organization was used. A multilevel perspective was used to examine the influence of normative telecommuting on individual performance.

Findings

It was found that while performance differences between telecommuters and non-telecommuters in mixed groups favor non-telecommuters, those differences become non-significant as the proportion of telecommuters increases. Results further show that when group task interdependence is low, there are no performance differences between telecommuters and non-telecommuters. When group task interdependence is high, telecommuters perform better as the proportion of telecommuters in the group increases.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should examine the group norms that are formed in predominantly telecommuting groups that support successful telecommuting outcomes.

Practical implications

Telecommuters perform better in groups with proportionally more telecommuters, even when task interdependence is high.

Originality/value

This study furthers our understanding around how telecommuting can be managed at the group level to maximize performance potential.

Article
Publication date: 8 May 2017

Aline D. Masuda, Claudia Holtschlag and Jessica M. Nicklin

In line with conservation of resources theory and signaling theory, the purpose of this paper is to conceptualize and test a multiple mediation model in which telecommuting

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Abstract

Purpose

In line with conservation of resources theory and signaling theory, the purpose of this paper is to conceptualize and test a multiple mediation model in which telecommuting affects engagement via perceived supervisor goal support and goal progress.

Design/methodology/approach

A three-phase longitudinal study carried out over ten months was used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

Individuals who worked in organizations that offer telecommuting were more engaged than those who worked in organizations that did not offer telecommuting. Furthermore, telecommuting availability was not only directly but also indirectly related to engagement via perceived supervisor goal support and goal progress. Engagement in general decreased over time. However, individuals who attained their personal work goals were able to maintain high levels of engagement.

Research limitations/implications

Giving employees the option to telecommute could increase employee engagement. This study is correlational in nature and relied on self-report data.

Originality/value

This is the first study examining the effects of telecommuting on engagement over a period of ten months. It is also the first study to use perceived supervisor goal support and goal progress as explanatory variables to the teleworking and engagement relationship.

Details

Career Development International, vol. 22 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1362-0436

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2006

Samia M. Siha and Richard W. Monroe

Telecommuting continues to be a topic of interest for practitioners and researchers alike. There are significant numbers of employees currently involved in telecommuting around…

7180

Abstract

Purpose

Telecommuting continues to be a topic of interest for practitioners and researchers alike. There are significant numbers of employees currently involved in telecommuting around the globe. Organizational implications, global workforce implications and the scarcity of scholarly publications make this research topic one that warrants our further investigation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the literature to identify the substantive work, examine the state of this phenomenon as of to date, particularly the failure and success factors, provide valuable insight to the practitioners and research directions to researchers

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive literature review was conducted in an effort to identify the significant, substantive work to date. We reviewed two major business data bases and limit our review to refereed journals because of the rigorous review process that these articles go through before publication.

Findings

A schema was identified to help categorize topics found in the literature. A framework model is proposed to further explore the relationships between the motivating factors for telecommuting and the resulting outcomes from telecommuting programs.

Practical implications

The literature review and the model should be useful information for both practitioners and researchers in a variety of disciplines including management, communication, and information technology.

Originality/value

Few published papers have attempted to thoroughly review the telecommuting literature. Many of the articles concentrate solely on the individuals who telework. This review, looks at many facets of the telecommuting phenomenon like the workers, their managers, the organization as well as the technological and environmental issues.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 12 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 2001

JO HARALD BOE SKÅMEDAL

For a long time, telecommuting has been expected to affect the aggregated travel pattern. A number of cause‐effect relationships between telecommuting and travel have been…

Abstract

For a long time, telecommuting has been expected to affect the aggregated travel pattern. A number of cause‐effect relationships between telecommuting and travel have been identified in literature concerning different types of trip with both decreased and increased travel as the outcome. To explore how telecommuting affects travel and travel patterns in Sweden an empirical study was conducted. The most important cause‐effect relationship concerns three categories: work‐trips, non‐work‐related trips and combination trips. The travel pattern, which is based on the telecommuter's regularity of trips, the point in time for different types of trip and the travel mode used, is also studied. The present results are compared with international findings, with the aim to create better understanding of how telecommuting affects the telecommuter's travel pattern and approximately estimate the magnitude of the travel impact. Finally, there is a contextual discussion concerning the probable total travel effects of telecommuting.

Details

Journal of Human Resource Costing & Accounting, vol. 6 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1401-338X

Article
Publication date: 1 September 1996

Rod Davies

Describes in detail an Internet conference in which the particpants discussed issues arising from the growth of telecommuting as a viable work and career function. Describes the…

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Abstract

Describes in detail an Internet conference in which the particpants discussed issues arising from the growth of telecommuting as a viable work and career function. Describes the nature of telecommuting and its implications for society, organizational culture and the individual. Discusses the managing, supervision and support of telecommuters.

Details

Career Development International, vol. 1 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1362-0436

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1993

Norman A. Solomon and Andrew J. Templer

The growth of telecommuting is occurring at an ever‐expanding rateand bringing with it the challenge to organizations to enhancedevelopment opportunities for both telecommuters…

Abstract

The growth of telecommuting is occurring at an ever‐expanding rate and bringing with it the challenge to organizations to enhance development opportunities for both telecommuters and their managers. Reports a survey of the use of telecommuting by a sample of 91 companies among the top 1,000 firms in Canada. Found that telecommuting is typically introduced for reasons of economic efficiency, and little thought is given to the development needs of telecommuting employees despite a clear need for telecommuting expertise. Concludes that telecommuting will bring significant changes in management‐employee relationships and the need for new designs in human resource development programmes.

Details

Journal of Management Development, vol. 12 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0262-1711

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 1000