Telecommuting

1. Telecommuting Technologies for working remotely Jonathan Blodgett, Lindsey Skinfill and Kevin Skinfill

2. The future of work? • Telecommuting – work arrangements that allow employees to work from home or other convenient locations instead of coming into a corporate office. • More and more common – 43% of American workforce expected to participate in some form of telecommuting by 2016 • Driving factors: • Shift to knowledge based work – not required to be done in a specific location • Changing demographics and lifestyle preferences - flexibility • New technologies with enhanced bandwidth – practical and cost effective • Reduced energy consumption – cost of commuting and real estate

3. Benefits • Allows greater flexibility for workers • Full time – programmers, remote sales, etc. • Part time – parents, disabled, etc. • Fringe benefits – occasional stay at home, sick kids, appointments • Can reduce costs for employers • Can result in less office space needed • Employees may accept telecommuting benefits in place of higher salaries • Less energy consumption for employers to pay for • Environmentally friendly • Significant reduction in employees daily commuting • Less energy consumption

4. VoIP • VoIP uses voice over IP technologies for placing and transmitting telephone calls over an IP network (voice, fax, SMS, voice-messaging ect. over the internet) • Simply plug an IP phone into a LAN port and the phone registers automatically at the VoIP phone system. • VoIP technology makes working from home easier as the crucial element is broadband connection, which most homes have. Simply connect the phone station (regular phone, IP phone, or computer) to the internet connection and you are ready to go. • You will need a VoIP based PBX system where functionality resides at the provider location, in the cloud. The system will support any remote phone and offer the same features as an office phone at any location.

5. Benefits of VoIP • Variety of plans including domestic, international, and small business • Common features include voicemail retrievable by VoIP, 411 calling, caller ID, call waiting, do not disturb, and call forwarding. • Check voicemail via email or attach voice messages to emails • No limits on long-distance calls, only need broadband connection • Cheaper than traditional PBX systems • Offers flexibility as traditional telephones, IP phones, and computers can all be used in VoIP systems. • Easy to set up

6. Videoconferencing • Also called ‘visual collaboration’ • Allows a conference to take place at multiple locations, enabling telecommuting • Core technology is digital compression of audio and visual streams in real time • Common operating modes include voice-activated switch or VAS and continuous process • Examples of software include skype and google hangout. Google hangout has VAS operating mode. • Video conferencing increases collaboration in telecommuting and is a useful too.

7. Virtual Private Network (VPN) • Enables a connection between a private network across a public network. • Allows a computer to send and receive data across shared networks as if directly connected to the private network • Allows a computer to benefit from the functionality, security, and management policies of the private network • Allows secure access to a company’s intranet while outside the office, making telecommuting possible.

8. Telecommuting Costs and Concerns • Home office set up • Ergonomic furniture and lighting • Equipment purchase and installation • Internet connection • Technology maintenance and support • Initial hardware installation • Scheduled maintenance • Desktop support • Information security • Both physical and electronic information

9. Telecommuting Costs and Concerns • Telecommuting Policy • Handling requests • Setting performance standards • Outlining responsibilities and liabilities • Core hours • Maintaining company culture • Team collaboration • Onboarding • Individual relationships