How Telecommuting Benefits Business
Corey Hertz
ENG 122: English Composition II
Prof. Heather Nielson
August 24th, 2015
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How Telecommuting Benefits Business
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Introduction
A. Thesis Statement: The ability to work from home, widely known today as
telecommuting, is a hugely beneficial technological breakthrough in the world of
business. It is no wonder why this phenomenon has experienced such drastic
growth over the past twenty years, as it provides greater productivity, creates
improved work-life balance, and eliminates distance-related obstacles when
II.
hiring.
Topic Sentence # 1: Whether it’s co-workers being loud, asking questions or maybe the
misfortune of sitting next to loud-pencil-tapping-guy, it’s no secret, offices are distracting
and can be a huge drain on productivity.
A. Supporting Evidence: Gajendran & Harrison (2007) state, “Improved
productivity is probably the most widely touted benefit associated with
telecommuting (McCloskey & Igbaria, 2003; Pinsonneault & Boisvert, 2001)”
(p. 5).
1) Explanation: the authors Gajendran & Harrison have consolidated
multiple studies on telecommuting and have derived that increased
productivity is widely accepted to be the number 1 benefit that
employers have found with their workers who telecommute.
2) So What?: This quote helps provide credibility to my claim as it
directly states that increased productivity is one of, if not the most
III.
improved aspects of being a telecommuter.
Topic Sentence # 2: Telecommuting greatly improves work-life balance by increasing
flexibility in one’s work schedule and location.
A. Supporting Evidence: “Flexibility in the timing (flextime) and location of work
(flexplace) are two characteristics that are repeatedly seen as a way to achieve
balance in work and family life… Scholars agree that individuals can better
manage long work hours with the unpredictable demands of dependent care when
given a measure of control over when and where work is done” (Hill et al., 2001)
How Telecommuting Benefits Business
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1) Explanation: this quote helps explain how a better overall work-life
balance can be achieved through more control over two main factors,
work timing (schedule) and where the work is done (workplace).
2) So What?: The topic sentence alludes to two main elements in
improving work-life balance, this quote directly backs those two points
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(schedule and workplace) as pivotal components.
Topic Sentence # 3: Telecommuting has greatly improved the hiring process by
eliminating obstacles such as distance and location, finally making it possible to get that
dream job even when it’s half way across the country.
A. Supporting Evidence: According to Wilkie (2015) in her HR Magazine article
Has the Telecommuting Bubble Burst: “Telecommuting can be the carrot a
company needs to land the best candidate. Often, it can make up for what a
company can’t pay in salary” (p. 5).
1) Explanation: the meaning of this quote is that there are several
components to finding a job and the ability to telecommute can be just
as important as how much the job pays. In many instances a person
will be willing to accept less pay if they are able to telecommute.
2) So What?: the quote states that telecommuting is often weighed as a
benefit against potentially less pay and often plays a large part in the
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candidate’s job selection.
Conclusion: Telecommuting has already shown itself as an effective addition in today’s
business landscape. This paper references numerous studies conducted over years of
scholarly research that prove telecommuters are more productive, happier and more
accessible employees when compared to ‘traditional office workers’. It’s hard to imagine
any other work-related qualities that could better solidify this modality as being
completely viable. So here’s a challenge for the next person you encounter who doesn’t
think telecommuting has improved the business world. Simply ask them this, “if
telecommuting isn’t beneficial to business, why do businesses continue to hire
How Telecommuting Benefits Business
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telecommuters in record numbers?” There’s only one correct answer to that question and,
unfortunately for the naysayer, it’s because telecommuting works.
How Telecommuting Benefits Business
VI.
References
Gajendran, R. S., & Harrison, D. A. (2007). The good, the bad, and the unknown about
telecommuting: Meta-analysis of psychological mediators and individual consequences. Journal
Of Applied Psychology, 92(6), 1524-1541. doi:10.1037/0021-9010.92.6.1524
Hill, E. J., Hawkins, A. J., Ferris, M., & Weitzman, M. (2001). Finding an Extra Day a Week:
The Positive Influence of Perceived Job Flexibility on Work and Family Life Balance. Family
Relations, (1). 49.
Wilkie, D. (2015). Has the TELECOMMUTING Bubble Burst?. HR Magazine, 60(5), 76-84.
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