Should information technologies and Internet availability make work from home the norm?

It is true that with the help of the information technology and internet facilities, employees are likely to accomplish various official duties while at home. Various organizations in the world are recently introducing employee flexibility management system that allows an employee to arrange timing of completing their official duties. employees are free to manage themselves and arrange for working hours whether at home or at office but the end result is to accomplish the duties assigned.

 

Information technology may be defined as the use of computers with other hardware devices and software programs to store, retrieve, transmit and manipulate data or information within an organization.

Internet may be defined as the largest computer network linking millions of computers in the world.

Computer network may be defined as the collection of computers and other hardware devices connected together so that users can share hardware, software and data so that to communicate electronically.

The followings are some technological advancements that may enhance working while at home a norm;

1. File transfer technology

E-mail technology is one of the easiest way to share (send or receive) documents and information. You can be at home but still you can send file/document to office for printing or you can receive a file/document from office for editing, formatting and creating.

2. Availability of portable personal computers

Many large organization are recently opting for laptop computers instead of desktop computers so that employee can proceed working even while at home using such a PC.

3. Availability of video conferencing technology

This enables employee who is working from home to simply conduct a face-to-face meeting with employees who are in the office for some work related discussions and elaborations. Computers, cameras and microphones can make this easy.

 

Working while at home can also be associated with the following advantages;

1. Enables an organization to save office working space. Working from home leaves enough space for those who are working from their office.

2. Reduces the office related expenses such as utilities (water and power that could have been used while working in an office)

3. Working from home also helps to cut down traffic and pollution for environment protection.

4. Enables employee flexibility such as to work non-traditional hours. working for more hours even when at home.

5. Enables employee to work with an organization even after re-allocation i.e. Employee being re-allocated to another working station but still can work with the former working station via online.

6. Enable an organization to save office parking space. employee who are working while at home are not likely to attend offices together with their vehicles.

 

 However,

There are some limits where an employee can not work while at home. These cases may include the followings;

1. Where an employee is supposed to physically perform some official duties such as approving payments through manual payment vouchers which are in office.

2. Attending customers who need over the counter services such as banking services where customer need to be listened and assisted with physical availability of both parties.

3. Sensitivity of the work limits various works to be done while at home. Some organizations considers work done at home as more vulnerable to public exposures.

 

Conclusion;

Working from home depends on various factors such as nature of work to be performed, sensitivity of work to be performed, working infrastructure/environments of the organization and flexibility on employees management styles.