Telecommuting: What? why? when? and how?

Abstract

Given changing work demands, organizations are increasingly reliant on the use of telecommuting. The overarching goal of this chapter is to provide organizations with evidence-based actionable tools for effective telecommuting arrangements. Although telecommuting has grown over the past several decades, scholars and practitioners have not yet developed a comprehensive understanding of what telecommuting is, why it should (and should not) be used, when it is appropriate, and how it can be successfully implemented. Therefore, the purpose of this chapter is to review (1) the concept of telecommuting and its various forms (what?), (2) the consequences of telecommuting, both positive and negative for employees and organizations (why?), (3) antecedents of effective telecommuting (when?), and (4) recommendations for best practices (how?). We conclude the chapter with considerations for the future of telecommuting