One of the great debates of the technology age is telecommuting. It has its advocates and its detractors, success stories, and anecdotal examples that may discourage the practice. Last summer, NBC reported that "big" companies "such as Yahoo, Bank of America, Aetna, and IBM" had recently curtailed or eliminated "telecommuting programs." There are those who believe such programs increase productivity, but corporate America seems inclined to maintain a "drive to work" paradigm.
There is data that supports the prevalence is decreasing. Bureau of Labor Statistics figures were cited, demonstrating a decrease in "the number of U.S. workers who worked partially or fully from home." However, contradictory data is also cited, with a worker survey reporting more workers claiming to be "working remotely." And, there are studies cited regarding the preferences and motivations of the millennial generation, particularly as regards schedule flexibility.
NBC concludes that the data is not really contradictory, except in perspective. The perceptions of employees, that they are working remotely, may not represent people that necessarily work remotely instead of commuting, but instead that work remotely in addition to commuting. This remote work is perhaps more of the traditional taking of work home at night or weekends, a supplement rather than a substitute for other efforts.
Managers are cited regarding complaints about telecommuting. There are perceptions that some workers are not as productive or as disciplined with their use of time when telecommuting. One quoted by NBC noted a company eliminated the practice. Reasons cited included "immaturity of certain staff members," some employee's "lack of desire/ability to focus on work while out of the office." This manager noted, "The things people did in their ‘free’ time astounded me.”
Coincidentally, also in July, a Forbes writer wrote to advocate for telecommuting, calling it "the future of work." Forbes contends that telecommuting is not just "another annoying millennial trait," but is a "complete design in how we approach the way we work." Forbes says there are many benefits, including better productivity, cost savings, diminished environmental impact, increased employee morale, and employee retention.
I have seen several people thrive and produce working exclusively or primarily in their own homes. It is certainly possible. The issues cited by NBC may be persuasive with certain employees. The benefits cited by Forbes might be persuasive with certain employers. The issue seems anything but unequivocal and simple.
These issues and various discussions of the topic returned to the fore with a recent news story from Australia. Yahoo News reports that an electrician there was accused of performing his assigned work, and eventually lost his job. The employee was apparently given work assignments, which were to be performed off-premises. He was provided a "personal digital assistant," which Yahoo described as "a phone-like device that has a GPS inside." That device would provide the employer with updates on where the employee was.
But, this employee was familiar with the work of Faraday almost two centuries ago. Faraday constructed metal cages, which protected the occupants from electricity and electromagnetic fields. These have been demonstrated in various Hollywood productions, such as Disney's 2010 Sorcerer's Apprentice. Coincidentally, the Faraday cage has been discussed recently as protection from electromagnetic pulse, a possible effect of North Korea's nuclear aspirations, and was highlighted among a variety of products for protecting electronic devices.
Courtesy Disney, 2010
The Australian electrician understood Faraday's work. He defeated the GPS function of the "personal digital assistant" by putting the device inside "an empty foil packet of Twisties, a puffy cheese-based snack that is popular in Australia." Sounds a bit like "Cheetos" perhaps. The electrician was fired after the employer found that he had evaded their monitoring with his makeshift Faraday cage, and was thereby able to play golf during work hours" occasionally, "at least 140 times over the last two years." The evidence included both documents from the golf club, and some customer security evidence that supported the electrician had not visited as he asserted. One very interesting point here, it required this employer two years to notice.
The employee was terminated, and an appeal of that was heard by the "Australia Fair Work Commission." The Commission concluded that the "Twisties" packaging was "deliberately used" to defeat the GPS function, and the termination was upheld. One Commissioner noted, that there was "no plausible explanation why" the electrician would put the device in a foil Twisties bag "except to obstruct the GPS collecting capacity of the device."
An expert quoted in the article noted that any "metallic" covering "could work to create a Faraday cage." He suggested "a birdcage," and even an airplane" could act to defeat the energy and thus frustrate the employer's monitoring. I have seen a few individuals with cell phones wrapped in foil. That practice has always amused me. Perhaps those who employ it are supposed to be elsewhere?
This example in the news reiterated a concern regarding remote employees, whether telecommuting or performing off-site customer service. How can managers effectively monitor work, attendance, etc. And, back to the two years it required to catch this electrician, how did no one notice that the repairs or installations he was sent to perform were not completed? Or, is it possible that he did complete them, but in less time than either he represented or the employer perceived? It is also possible that the work assignments were completed by co-workers who believed they were supplementing his efforts when instead they might have been substituting for his efforts?
This example is also somewhat contrary to some assertions of the manager cited by NBC. That referenced "maturity" as both NBC and Forbes cited the millennial generation and its desires and motivations. But, the fraud Australian employee with the Twisties Faraday cage was 60 years old (a "boomer"). It is certainly possible to be an immature 60-year-old, but that does not seem to be the suspected demographic that either NBC or Forbes was addressing. Perhaps there is potential for fraud and misfeasance at any age?
It seems likely that telecommuting is part of our new reality. There are undeniable benefits to employers. But, it is equally clear that there are challenges, and more effort will be devoted to effectively monitoring production, output, and function when telecommuting or working remotely. There will likely be innovation and adjustment for appropriate measures of work or value. This evolution will struggle to minimize the potential and real downsides while maximizing the potential benefits to both employer and employee.