Being able to work from home or any other location proves to be a very ideal situation for many. But aside from convenience, telecommuting provides more benefits.

In a world where technological advancements have been making work life much more mobile and easier, it's no longer surprising to see certain subcultures and practices emerge. Telecommuting, for instance, didn't exist during the '60s. But come the '70s when satellite offices became possible due to the restructuring of phone lines, the term "telecommuting" was created, thanks to Jack Nilles.

Fast forward to today and much has definitely changed. More barriers are broken as offices are continuously being moved to homes. Anyone's house can be transformed into a satellite workplace by creating your own virtual office. And with the seemingly unstoppable evolution and sophistication of the telecommunications technology, telecommuting has become more than just a practice. It's become a lifestyle for many Americans.

There are around 45 million Americans who are telecommuting at least once a week. And if you're an owner of any mobile device like a laptop, a smartphone, or a tablet, then you're likely one of the growing number of telecommuters. The promise of attaining a work-life balance through telecommuting seems irresistible for many. Why not? Being able to work from home or any other location proves to be a very ideal situation for many, especially for working parents.

But aside from convenience, telecommuting provides more benefits:

More Diverse Employee Demographics

Because telecommuting allows you to work from virtually anywhere and anytime, people who normally wouldn't be able to work are now finding means to earn, and that means increased employee demographics. Companies can now hire more stay-at-home parents, people with disabilities, working students, and even retirees and overseas workers, since the prospect of working from home eliminates the need to commute to the workplace.

Less Environmental Impacts

With more people staying at home to work, there's reduced need to commute or drive to the office, eventually decreasing traffic jams, fuel usage, and carbon emissions. The American Electronics Association reported that if every American would work from home at least one-and-a-half days a week, about 1.35 billion gallons of fuel could be conserved. The Environmental Protection Agency also reported that carbon dioxide emissions would reduce by about 26 billion pounds if population of telecommuters continuously rise.

Better Micromanagement

Company managers find that telecommuting employees show more productivity in their work than those who work on-site. If so, companies not only enjoy reduced overhead expenses that come with having employees physically report to the office, but also benefit from better employee output and productivity. Moreover, the privilege given to employees to work from home reduces attrition and unscheduled absences. And if there is indeed attrition, company managers are able to quickly find replacements since many Americans find the offer of working from home quite attractive and practical.

There's no doubt that technology has been opening doors for many people. And with the continuous development of the internet and mobile telecommunications industry, you'd soon be running out of reasons not to improve your business or even to make money.

Author Bio
Monique Jones is an Engineer who deals with telephone systems. Besides being an Engineer, she also works as a part time writer. She helps her colleagues and other people about their communication issues, giving effective solutions to address their needs.