
Why Telecommuting is the future of work?
With none of the distractions from a traditional office setting, telecommuting drives up employee efficiency. It allows workers retain more of their time in the day and adjust to their personal mental and physical well-being needs that optimize productivity.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of telecommuting?
- Limited Applications of Remote Work Arrangements. Certain business activities within specific sectors or industries are not suitable for remote work for the simplest reason that they are labor-dependent.
- Can Negatively Affect Engagement and Morale. ...
- Disadvantages of Remote Work for Organizations. ...
Is telecommuting the future of work?
Telecommuting provides a better future for work. With a quarter of all employed Americans working from home, telecommuting has moved beyond being just another Millennial trend.
When was telecommuting introduced?
The term “telecommuting” was first coined in 1972 by Jack Nilles. At that time, Nilles was working remotely on a complex NASA communication system. He told people what he was doing was “Telecommuting”, and the phrase was born.

When did people start telecommuting?
1972-1980: The Early Years The term “telecommuting” was first coined in 1972 by Jack Nilles. At that time, Nilles was working remotely on a complex NASA communication system. He told people what he was doing was “Telecommuting”, and the phrase was born.
When did working from home become popular?
While modern-day remote work policies were formulated and adopted by companies after 1999, it predates even the personal computer. In 1979 five IBM employees were allowed to work from home as an experiment. By 1983, the count rose to 2000.
Who coined telecommuting?
Jack NillesJack Nilles is thought to have coined the word telecommuting in 1973, and he defined it as “the substitution of telecommunications and/or computers for commuting work” (Nilles, 1994, p. 109). The emphasis is on the reduction or elimination of the daily commute to and from the workplace.
Why is telecommuting called work from home?
Definition & Examples of Telecommuting Telecommuting is an employment arrangement in which the employee works outside of the employer's office. Often this means working from home or at a location close to home, such as a coffee shop, library, or co-working space.
Why do employers hate work from home?
Managers reported “negative perceptions” of the work-from-home trend. The managers were brutally honest. Nearly 70% replied that remote workers are “more easily replaceable than onsite workers.” About 67% of supervisors said they spend more time supervising remote workers than onsite workers.
What is the difference between teleworking and remote working?
Telework: Working from home, a satellite office, or shared space rather than commuting to a nearby office. Remote Work: Working from home, a satellite office, or shared space regardless if an office exists in close proximity to you.
What is the difference between remote Access & telecommuting?
Though often away from the office, a teleworker is different from a remote employee because there occasionally some in-person office attendance required — though this is not always the case. Another key difference is that a teleworker is often geographically closer to the main office location than a remote worker.
What is the correct term for working from home?
Remote work (also known as work from home [WFH] or telecommuting) is a type of flexible working arrangement that allows an employee to work from remote location outside of corporate offices.
What are the disadvantages of telecommuting?
6 disadvantages of teleworking for employeesElimination of a good working environment. ... Emotional disengagement. ... Not being able to control the time and work of our employees. ... Lack of collaboration between work teams. ... Isolation by professionals. ... Reduction of learning.
What do telecommute means?
Telecommuting is the ability for an employee to complete work assignments from outside the traditional workplace by using telecommunications tools such as email, phone, chat and video apps.
When did remote working technologies emerge?
Before the days of Skype and Zoom calls, a NASA engineer by the name of Jack Nilles laid the foundation for modern remote working when he coined the term "telecommuting" in 1973.
What is federal telework legislation?
Specifically, the bill requires each federal agency (executive, legislative, and judicial) to allow eligible employees to telework full-time during the public health emergency declared on January 31, 2020, relating to COVID-19 (i.e., coronavirus disease 2019).
When did telecommuting become mainstream?
By the 2000s, telecommuting work models ramped up and became mainstream. Social media, third generation (3G) mobile devices, and streaming technology made communication easier and faster. Broadband service for mobile phones was introduced in 2001 and evolved quickly to enhance data transfer and connect more devices to the Internet.
When did telecommuting and technology change?
Though both stories unfolded separately at first, they greatly influenced each other’s maturity. It wasn’t until the 1970s when telecommuting and tech locked arms and transformed the workplace side-by-side.
What were the environmental impacts of telecommuting in the 1990s?
Environmental Influences: 1990s. The Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 increased awareness of air quality issues and the need for alternative energy resources. Thus, telecommuting really had a moment in the 90s, since working from home reduced daily transportation-related emissions. Related: 8 Positive Environmental Effects of Remote Work.
What was the first working prototype of the Internet?
In the same period, the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) created the first working prototype of the Internet. DOD found a way to connect different computers on one network, which was dubbed the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network, or ARPANET.
Who is the father of telecommuting?
The Father of Telecommuting: 1970s. In 1973, a man named Jack Nilles significantly influenced the telecommuting workplace model with his book, The Telecommunications-Transportation Tradeoff. Nilles researched and developed a case that showed how telecommuting could offset traffic congestion and resource conservation.
When did IBM start making the web?
IBM even created a mobile device with smartphone-like abilities and multiple features. Also, Tim Berners-Lee gave the World Wide Web a face in 1990 with his first official web browser. The browser was released to the public in 1991, offering individuals access to networks of data and information sharing capabilities.
When did Bill Gates start using Windows?
Plus, businesses began to see the value of computers and incorporated computers into daily employee tasks. In 1985 , Bill Gates launched the legendary Windows operating system, which revolutionized personal and business computing forever.
Who coined the idea of telecommuting?
Coining the idea of telecommuting. In 1973, Jack Nilles, a former NASA engineer, coined the idea of telecommuting, which in fact, was a turning point in the history of telecommuting. Niels introduced teleworking as a means of conserving energy and a modern lifestyle. By conducting studies from 1973 to 1974, he was able to arrange experiments ...
Why is telecommuting important?
The importance that local governments recognize in enforcing this law has paved the way for more telecommuting. In other words, telecommuting was a phenomenon that helped reduce air pollution by reducing traffic in the city. This law required agencies to reduce their employees’ travel time.
What were people doing before the Industrial Revolution?
Before the Industrial Revolution, people often worked in the same place where they lived. Farmers took care of their land, and artists often spent time building their products and selling their wares in the same place. The women were raising chickens in their backyards and selling their meat and eggs there, and in general, ...
When did the telecommunications initiative start?
In 1996 , the Telecommunications Initiative was launched in the United States. In return, the federal government formally supported telecommuting and promoted it among employees, especially its own workers.
When did IBM allow remote workers to work from home?
1979. This year, IBM allowed a number of its employees to work from home. The number of remote IBM employees has gradually increased to 2,000 in 1982.
Can you connect to the internet while traveling?
This technology is mostly used to connect to the Internet wirelessly, which has made it very popular, and with this technology, you can easily connect to the Internet via a mobile computer while traveling, on a plane, or in a hotel. The invention of wifi made telecommuting more prosperous.
Who was the first person to write a paper on telework?
Patricia Mokhtarian, a transportation engineer, published her first paper on telework. As one of the early pioneers of telecommunications, Mokhtarian published numerous articles on how telecommunications technology affects travel. Research that became crucial in paving the way for telecommuting.
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Infographic: The History of Telecommuting
Telecommuting has become very popular and being able to work from anywhere is becoming more of a standard business practice. So when did telecommuting start? Here’s a timeline of events in the history of telecommuting:
When did Obama sign the Telework Enhancement Act?
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010, which doesn’t just encourage, but requires all federal executive agencies to establish policies for eligible employees to work remotely.
What was the workforce in the 1960s?
By the 1960s, the 20th-century workforce was a commuting workforce. And labor was still quite physical. Manufacturing and textiles were still booming industries and the “knowledge economy” that dominates today didn’t yet exist.
What were the first commercial workspaces?
Office work brought further changes. The history of the office shows that the first commercial workspaces were hugely transformative, thanks largely to some new-fangled inventions: the telephone, the telegraph, widespread public electricity, and the typewriter. These were some of the precursors to the remote office communication tools we use today.
What was the first opportunity for post war housewives to have their own business at home?
The first opportunity for post-war housewives to have their own “business” at home came from Tupperware. “Brownie Wise invited fellow ’50s housewives to demonstrate Earl Tupper’s line of plastic containers at one of her ‘patio parties.’.
What was the first home office?
As time went on, merchants and craftspeople before the Industrial Revolution created what might be described as the first home offices. These hybrid work-homes had street-facing shops or workshops, and private areas set aside for day-to-day living.
What is domesticity in work?
Domesticity was a focal point of early work-from-home activities. Managing the home meant multitasking and managing resources, finances, and the division of labor. Boundaries between home and work life, if they existed at all, were blurred at best.
Early Life to the Middle Ages
Early humans blurred the lines between work life and home life. The work/home environment was a day-to-day feature of life for hunter-gatherers. They foraged for wild plants, fished in nearby lakes and rivers and hunted local fauna. They sorted and prepared their food and fashioned clothing for protection, all in the spaces they lived.
The Industrial Revolution
If you’re looking for an era to blame for the 9-5 work model, look no further than the Industrial Revolution. During this time, people began working in factories making things like clothing, shoes, household items and tools. Factories produced items faster and cheaper and factory work brought profound changes to the way people worked.
World War II
It’s no secret the U.S. economy was shaky pre-World War II. After the stock market crash and the Great Depression, the mobilization effort during World War II put Americans back to work. Many of these workers were women. After the war, these women continued to work outside the home.
The Internet Age
The Internet Age brought smaller, more affordable devices and access to connectivity, making it easier for people to be mobile. Computers and the internet paved the way for modern day remote work. In the late 1990s, more people started buying personal computers, and even more were connecting their homes to the internet.

History of Telecommuting
Coining The Idea of Telecommuting
- In 1973, Jack Nilles, a former NASA engineer, coined the idea of telecommuting, which in fact, was a turning point in the history of telecommuting. Niels introduced teleworking as a means of conserving energy and a modern lifestyle. By conducting studies from 1973 to 1974, he was able to arrange experiments for telecommuting. The activities and res...
Telecommuting in The Modernity Age
- These days, telecommuting has become a permanent part of the employment outlook, saving energy and environmental resources and improving employees’ quality of life in developed countries around the world. Thanks to technology, people can work from home or in remote places, as if they were in an office. Today, most people around the world have access to high-sp…
History of Telecommuting
- 1560
The Uffizi Gallery in Florence was built. The main office building of the Medici trading empire. This building was a prerequisite for the first office with legal personality. - 1760-1840
The Industrial Revolution created a strong social movement toward working outside the home. That was when working almost meant being out of the house.
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