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Clearly there are occupations that cannot be performed from home - Air Traffic Control - Pilots - Fireman etc. However there are some times when a part of every occupation can be performed from home. My vote is for a split - some from work and some from home so that the employers, the workers and society all win! Must it be all or nothing? Traffic congestion is a problem all big cities face - and the social problems faced by traffic jams are enormous (stress; road rage; missed appointments - flights etc). Lets get creative and mix it up for the benefit of all.
Rowland McGready, Australia

Teleworking is ideal for any modern society. An enormous amount of energy and effort has been devoted to making a box with wheels (the automobile) that can take us to all the necessary places modern society demands us to be. If the chaps that came up with the automobile were to think of a way to "work at home" they would have outfitted a two-story town house with wheels and a leather driver's seat in the living room. Not only is creating a society with the automobile as the basic form of transportation impractical, but it is expensive to maintain (Iraq. . . need I say more?). Teleworking is safer, cheaper, and less time consuming. Critics are simply stuck on the automobile culture and not thinking of a practical future. The same transportation system that is practical in America will NOT be practical in countries like China (who neither have the money for such a system nor the military power to keep oil prices low). Such countries can't afford to be! as impractical as America and may leave America behind.
Ivan Stout, USA

As an IT contractor, I have worked at home on occasions and it has been very productive, more so than in an office. Perhaps this is due to the work I do(mostly programming) but I tend to get distracted more at the office than at home where I can work my own hours Maybe working at home is not suited to everyone, but it sure is to me...
Ken Leang, Australia

Working at home is a definite YES if you are: 1: have kids 2. want to eliminate commuting (save time and stress) 3. want to eliminate added expense of office wardrobe 4. relieve stress and add balance to af busy lifestyle 5. take charge of your career 6. many more reasons that I don't have the time to put down at the moment. there are definitely more pluses than minues. But self motivation definiately need to make this a success
Sonja Moore, Canada

I am only 52 and have been put on a disability pension because I can't find work in the normal workplace area. I would like to use the education I have worked so hard to get if for no other reason but to supplement my pension. The perfect solution to me is teleworking part-time or on a casual basis as I need to take frequent breaks. However, there seems to be few opportunities with companies in Australia. I have an Associate Diploma of Business - Microcomputer Systems as well as other valuable work and educational skills. I am married but we have no children thus no distraction factor. I agree that not all jobs could be done from home, but many could be. More employers should look into the possibilities.
Sheldon Spadafore, Australia

I currently tele-commute. I am doing technical writing. Although many people could work from home, you must balance this against the interaction that is required in daily lives. It is too easy to be isolated. There are certain qualities that must be developed to successfully work at home. You must be focused and a self starter, have a good place to work, have sufficient technology to accomplish your job. You do not have the support services that are taken for granted in an office environment. Many people could work from home. I just don't think it for everyone. It works for me.
Bob Pyle, Canada

Only if employers share the savings in overheads with the staff who no longer occupy expensive space and agree to pay a share of additional light, heat and power bills caused by working in your own home. If this is not the case, teleworking is just a euphemism for "cutting overheads and making the staff pay out of their own pocket".
Ajay Mittal, USA

I think a day or two every fortnightly would be a good idea to work from home. This could even be made into a law. Not only will it be relaxing for the employees, but it will also ease congestion on the roads. Sometimes, working from home in your easy clothese can help to increase productivity and allow you to think better without distractions from colleagues or your boss.
David J Bailey, UK

I am the managing director of a high tech company that has installed systems at home for several key workers for telecommuting purposes. I am 100% behind the principle and often operate from home myself. I do not think it is at all practical for tele-workers to work only from home as they also need the social intercourse of the office or factory to motivate them, which is a key part of the job. I have voted no to your direct question "should we all work from home" but I do encourage other companies to allow workers the opportunity to telecommute when it is practical for them to do so. If an employee has to write a report or do some programming the benefits of working from home can be immense. I am also very aware of the pollution caused by commuter traffic and support any methods or plans to reduce road traffic congestion and pollution. Telecommuting can help resolve this situation tremendously and we should all try and operate some levels of telecommuting to help overcome this problem.
Peter Manson, England

Individual needs of staff and organisations should be matched. Therefore in any organisation there will be some staff who can work well from home, whilst others prefer (or are required in) an office environment. Additionally, some organisations are poorly suited to home-based staff and therefore cannot offer this option. They key issue is the flexibility to offer and accept option if it is suitable to both parties. There are no longer any technology or management barriers to entry.
Milton Baar, Australia

I run a small business from home and it works for me but there are an awful lot of jobs that cannot and should not be done from home. You have to be a very disciplined person with time to work successfully from home and let's face it a lot of us aren't.
Sharon, Australia

I have based my business at home for the last 5 years. I feel that home working requires a certain discipline and also think it is not for everyone. We are social animals and unfortunately the spontaneous interaction with work mates just does not happen when you are working on your own, regardless of technology. I have seen a number of people who have been required to work from home spiral down towards depression and although I have the choice (I would finance an office if I had to) I have found myself becoming extremely down hearted at times.
I would think that a woman who has to work from home and look after children would realise that the relative escape the office provides could be considered a welcome relief. I think that people who are given the chance to work from home must also be given the option to return to work if they should ever need to. I would also stress that someone who does work from home should treat the new environment just as if they were going to work! It must be in a spare room away from the living area. Do not mix you office work with normal house chores ie do not try to clean the house when you are in the middle of your working day. Adhere strictly to office hours. Try to 'walk to work' by going out for 15-20 minutes before and after your allotted work time so you give yourself a natural break from 'work' time and 'home' time. Pack up just as you would at work by clearing your desk each day prior to leaving work.
DO NOT think that you can finish a job later by returning to the office of an evening or weekends. This can really cause problems as it begins to affect the family as well as the worker. Try to get out as much as possible at lunch times, you will be amazed at how much exercise you actually do just by walking from the train station to the office and around the office itself. This will all disappear and you will really have to watch that weight.
Ian Jukes, UK

No I think one's personal life and professional life should be kept very separate. Also home is a place to relax, if you start working from home then in your mind you are always at work and therefor you can never really relax at home and nobody needs that kind of stress.
Michael, Australia

We have several people that telecommute part-time. With standards in place I believe this is a flexible work option that will help companies hold on to their valuable employees.
Sara Landolt, USA

My fiancée and I both telecommute at times. We also have friends who do. There are definite problems, chief among them lack of contact with co-workers and professional peers. It is difficult to grow professionally if you don't have regular contact with others skilled in your field. I feel telecommuting 2-3 times/week would be ideal.
Michael Schindel, USA

I have just started working from home as a Travel Agent. The benefits are flexibility with hours, I can work 10pm or 6am in my dressing gown! The only disadvantage is not working with other people, however the internet keeps you in touch and after the last boss I had - I'd rather be on my own.
Mary Burston, Australia

If everyone worked at home we would become a society with no ability to correspond or interact with other people, only machines.
Deborah, Canada

Get real, we are a group of isolationist nations with very little in common because of the technology age we lose all our socialization skills. Find ways to reduce travel and pollution but don't pen us in isolation.
Murray, Australia

Having worked from home for many years, I know that self-discipline is possibly the most important attribute to develop. It can be easy to convince yourself that there is always something needed to be done before you 'get down to it', cut the lawn, walk the dog, clean the windows etc etc.
Nick Harper, England

Everyone who can, should work from home as often as it is practical. If we can reduce traffic anyway we can it should be done. When it's school holidays (no teachers going to work, parents taking holidays and not dropping off children at school etc.) the traffic becomes almost bearable. If only 20% of all workers worked from home surely that's good. Unfortunately manual workers will still need to travel, but at least there will be less people getting in their way!
Simon Heath, UK

The very idea is preposterous, although a coal miner, factory line worker or engineer might have cause to reflect on those with office jobs that could consider such an option!
J Thorne, Taiwan

I live in Honiton and commute to Bristol everyday because I can't find work as well paid nearer home - if I could work from home it would be a God send.
Liz Chubb, England

I think it would greatly reduce the skills shortage in the IT industry. There are people out there who just do not want to commute to London etc. to sit in a cubicle.
Jeff Deacon, England

Constraining people to work at an office so many hours a day, is out-dated and no longer really necessary for many tasks. In the "Information Society" we could be free to work (and live) anywhere and yet be able to communicate with the world, work, and play. I think we should encourage Teleworking in every way possible.
David Powell, France

Working from home some of the time should be possible for many office workers. Maybe up to half of the working week can be spent at home, split up in a convenient manner, which could minimise wasted time on both the employer's and the employee's part. It would save me 2 hours a day in commuting. It can be isolating, but maybe a local telecottage environment may meet at least part of this need, with the drive to work being replaced by a 5 minute walk to a small office environment. Anything that puts off the government's half baked restrictions on personal transportation should be encouraged.
Keith Walker, UK

We think we shuold work from home because you could have a break whenever you want.
Shaun Shere-Massey and Matthew Clark, UK

Wouldn't we cut on our transportation costs considerably and divert these saved funds into something economically or socially productive?
Sulove Bothra, India

As an IT worker, I am able to work at any location with my lap-top and mobile phone allowing me to comminicate with colleagues and clients. This would seem the ideal set-up for home teleworking. However, my personal experience is that though some time spent working at home can be productive, there are too many interruptions - children to name but one, and temptations - the biscuit tin!
Malcolm Coghill, UK

I think we would all lose out by missing the human interaction that working with others in an office creates.
George Litchfield, UK

I work from home but I still have child minding bills because I wouldn't be able to work otherwise. I still work a typical day ie 9-5 and run the house as well. I prefer it to working in the office but I still go in once a week. I believe that people should have the option, say a couple days a week. This would give the best of both worlds.
Sarah, UK

Not everyone basks in a comfy office job from which they commute to home counties surburbia. Can we build cars at home? Process any of the traditional factory products? Catch fish? Raise cattle and sheep? Drive buses and trains? Pilot aircraft? Let's get real - the work that REALLY counts still has to be done the hard way and always will.
John Luby, Scotland

Yes - in some positions - definitely see benefits for family, productivity and lifestyle - would like to see copy of guide from Department of Trade and Industry when available, as we are trialling "Working from Home" at the moment for some staff.
Jo Strother, Australia

No, it's not right for everyone. For those in sales, the personal contact is essential. Physical, face-to-face interaction also favors some more than others, i.e, tall, big people command more respect because of their physical presence, not in spite of it. However, journalists, lawyers, writers of all kinds, vendors: these are all people who would benefit from this.
Ian, USA

Not all jobs will work from home but for many people and many places it opens more opportunities than they had before.
C. K. Babbitt, USA

Yes, it is a good idea. With mobile phone and internet we'll see a hyrid of shared office and hoteling concept.
David Wee, Malaysia

Working from home vs working from an office is not really the issue, it's more complex of course. In general though, there is I feel much advantage to be gained for many organisations AND their staff by having greater flexibility in the patterns of work as well as the location. There is no right solution for all workers or organisations, diferent solutions for different situations are necessary. There is a growing recognition of the need for this flexibility and the dynamic nature of the market place means that both employees and employers will have to adapt more readily to these forces.
Simon G James, UK

If everybody worked from home, life would be pretty boring, but certain workers could and should work from home.The benefits outweigh the disadvantages.
Dave Morgan, Wales

As I work as Translator, working from home for me is just perfect. It gives me time for everything I have to do and time for my family. I love it.
Leila Freitas e Souza, Brazil

It is fine for "Information" workers where the flow accross a desk can be done electonically but it is a bit difficult for the manufacturing worker where material items need to be warehoused, assembled, converted. Try producing a a major film at home!
John Talbot, New Zealand

As someone who is based in the UK but now engaged in an increasing amount of international business - my 'home office' is fast becoming my regular base whilst in the UK. Visits to 'corporate offices' are minimal and arranged via administrative staff who operate at company premises (non-candidates?) and discussion with colleagues is either conducted via telephone, fax or e-mail. Where 'face-to-face contact is required (and it is on occasions), access to conference facilities and/or 'touch-down' office space is provided. This pattern is becoming increasingly common but is not viable for all staff. Visits from customers, for example, require corporate office space and the visual stimuli that accompany the sight of large groups of people engaged in delivering customer service(s). A plush foyer in an empty office block, plastered with photos of employees working at their 'domestic study areas' is a poor substitute! This said, opportunities for enabling staff to work from home should be explored where practicable. Voice/Data communication is now available to support this endeavour and technology is no longer a real constraint. In summary, a balance between, cost, practicality, domestic harmony (some 'home-based' partners would be horrified at the prospect!), and an appropriate injection of (mandatory) face-to-face contact would make for a more productive workforce.
Gavin Morris, UK

Working at home, especially for people involved in marketing and sales, is by far more productive. Apart from flexibility there is relaxed environment where you organise your own time schedule for any activity.
Kamal N. Rahimi, Greece

As I work with computers and am not really a 9-5 person, it would make life a lot easier! Plus reduce expenses such as travel, lunch, etc. The point about no interaction with co-workers is valid however, so perhaps a compromise would be better (i.e. 1-2 days a week at office, rest at home).
Seamus Hanley, UK

I have been telecommuting for 28 years. Now it is even easier than before; but the real barrier was always more psychological than technical. After all, we have had phones and telexes (before faxes) and next day mail for an awful long time.
DD, USA

In my opinon, I think it's up the person and what they need to do to get the job done. I've worked from both companies and from home. I prefer working at a workplace. It allows me to separate my home and work life. There's an "end" to the day. When I was working from home, I had to force myself to stop working.
Martin Green USA

Interaction among co-workers will definitely enhance one's working life plus one may feel difficult to identify with the company after prolonged absence from the office. Working from home would eventually lead to complacency as well.
Evelyn Woo, Singapore

I would love to have an extra couple of hours in bed every day, not have to fork out on expensive suits (or not so many of them anyway), not have to pay a sizeable proportion of my salary out on travel, not get stressed out on public transport, not have to spend loads on lunch because I work in London...oh well, maybe one day my company will change their minds about home working.
Louise Tolman, UK

I work from home and find it has good points and bad. I like the freedom to set my hours and to avoid a long commute. I do feel a little isolated and I am starting a new Internet search engine company and I find myself looking forward to working with others in the same physical space. Eventually I see myself and others combining some time working at home and other time working together to build team spirit and accomplish goals together.
Dan Burnstein USA

Work where work is most effective. It is important that "face to face" work still occurs, but why go to the office just for the sake of it! When in the UK I typically work 2-3 days per week at home.
Paul Burne

This has to be the way forward, as long as the employee has a feeling of 'belonging' and has the facilities they need. It should not reduce, but increase productivity. It makes sense to utilise communications technology to improve living standards, and reduced travelling time can only help. With 'hot desking' the need for companies to have as much costly floorspace is reduced and more flexible working times would lead to a huge reduction in rush hour traffic. There are however some people and proffessions where teleworking is not a viable option, however I think even these people would appreciate the plus side of many others not making their way to work every day.
David Donnan, UK

In Mexico we are looking for this kind of job development and I think that is very important for activate the economy, especially in this country.
Ramon Amador, Mexico

Working from home makes us feel human. I did for many years, it is beautiful.
N.Ramsay, Jordan

A few points to make:
1) Not all jobs are suitable for teleworking, even in the same company
2) Teleworking should never completely replace the office. I work from home on average two or three days a week - you need those other days for internal meetings and social contact that can never be found through teleworking - not until someone develops real-time solid-light holograms!
3) Teleworking does not mean no childcare costs. You still need to devote yourself to the work. If this sounds ridiculous, try imagining taking your children to the office!
4) You can't get up when you like, just a little later than normal.
Tony Foster, UK

While I am not opposed to working at home, this of course could not be possible for people in many fields of employment. Besides, in dredging up the old topic of drug-testing by employers, one must remember that there is a growing trend, at least in my country, whereby companies feel the need to monitor, if not control, every activity of its employees. At the office, companies can record telephone calls, breaks, sneezes, etc. My point is, while the numbers of those who work from home may be on the rise, so are the numbers of self-employed people. This will NEVER become an accepted custom in the corporate world.
Evan S, USA

It is generally agreed that a combination of working from home for two or three days and the rest at your place of work stops you feeling isolated and still keeps you noticed should any promotion become available. At the same time the company can reduce its working area, in turn this will reduce its heating bills and if the company is in a built up area it will help cut pollution and congestion in the area.
John Ruddleston, UK

Yes, at least partly during the course of a week. If partnerships in the workplace exist known as 'buddying' then someone would always be available in the workplace for everyday issues. It would have to be only a proportion of the week spent at home say 40/60 or 50/50.
Ian Gillan, Scotland

For me it would be more comfortable for the reason that my wife is disabled, and she is at work, but sometimes her assistant doesn't go to her job, and then I am the helper of my wife.
Jha Heinonen, Finland

Practicalities aside I'm afraid I am too lazy to work from home. On the odd occasion when I've done so in the past I found even the most mundane of household chores took on a special priority ahead of my professional work. I'm quite sure that there are many more like me. Besides, once you've endured the journey to work on London Underground the rest of the day can only get better.
John B, UK

Working from home isn't as easy as many think. It's very hard to motivate yourself from home with your TV, child, magazine etc. at arms reach. Worse still is the total isolation. Little jokes and snippets of conversation about everything from the weather to what you watched on TV last night are cut off. You end up with no social interaction all day.
Then there are the benefits of explaining a problem to a colleague. No end of times I've witnessed people solve their own problem by thinking about it more carefully when they explain it to a college face to face. Or a colleague will advise on an alternative solution. All this will be lost as well.
Roy Matthews, England

Not everyone has a happy home environment in which to work. Some people find the workplace a haven of peace away from unhappy relationships.
Lesley Gowen, Wales

The other half is reduced due to the many distractions at home. The distractions are made more tempting after a day or so as I start to crave human contact and find the TV a substitute for colleagues and so get more distracted. The bonus is that I don't add to the traffic, or have to spend my normal 6 hours driving to and from work. The downside is that I get so lonely.
Tim Pearce, UK

I think it depends on the person - whether they are disciplined enough to be able to keep a quiet environment, but also personal contact is v. important.
Daniel Smart, England

I think that working from home is OK as long as there is scope for a regular face-to-face programme with peers in an office environment. Without this the home worker becomes stale!
Tony Nockles, UK

There is no doubt that people will be working from home in greater numbers. It is the trend of the future. And, the only possible reason why anybody would need to work from an office is in the case of a medical doctor or dentist that has to examine his patients. As for things that require having some technical person repair an item, or object, as an automobile, you cannot get away from the need to leave the home. But, the idea of companies investing millions of dollars in new buildings, is basically a waste of money. Money that will never be fully appreciated. And, it seems that those many buildings that are filled with offices will become more and more useless.
Eventually, they will end up as 'empty shells' with a lack of people to pay for their maintenance. While, the 'electronic cottage', as Toffler spoke of in the 'The Third Wave' becomes the reality of the future. Does this trend have any real advantages? The answer is definitely "yes". Many of us will be working at home in the future and we will do our jobs with even greater precision and accuracy, greater speed and efficiency than ever thought possible. All from our homes! The personal computer is transforming lives as definitely as the discovery of the 'wheel'. The world will never be the same.
Dave Adams, USA

I believe that working at home is a convenient solution for people with small children, although part of the enjoyment in working is being part of an environment which gives you the opportunity to meet and communicate with a wide variety of people. I personally would feel cut off from the rest of the world if I did not have the outlet of going to work. I have 3 children, who are still growing up, and realize that it is hard on a working woman. Probably the ideal situation would be part-time office, part-time home.
Frances Duffy, Italy

Working from home gives me flexibility. Thanks to an answering machine and a mobile phone, I am free to go out when I do not have work. Tele-working is the only form of work which could offer me the opportunity of working for companies in different locations.
On the other hand, there are disadvantages. It is difficult to 'mark off' work time from free time, so that it is easy to be both undisciplined and, in a sense, to be working all the time. I also miss the team atmosphere of working with other people.
Russell Phillips, UK

More flexibility means less stress and less concentration on traffic flow and commuter systems. We should be able to work from home and have an office to go to for meetings, catch up, etc. I have done this, and it allows me to concentrate on my work as well as fit the rest of my life in. And avoid the traffic. Must have solid backbone of IT connections.
M. Murphy, UK & USA

I currently work as a consultant with a 50% split of time in the office and working from home the loss of communication with work companions is easily addressed via email and all informed circulars. Yet I tend to gain the most valuable information from chance meetings at the office this is why I still work from the office during peak periods (Friday/Monday).
Jamie McGregor, UK

What? No more free coffee! Seriously though, I live by myself and I'd get pretty lonely if I worked at home all day, every day. I wouldn't mind doing it for one day every couple of weeks, but that's my limit. Also I don't see why an employer should have "free" use of my home to treat as their premises. And presumably sooner or later someone would start thinking about charging business rates on the rooms used for work. In all, I think it's a bad idea; but then my daily commute is a 20-minute drive through the countryside.
Mark Parker, UK

These days I am working from home. Instead of working I answer this survey since I do not have a chance to talk to colleagues. I cannot enjoy the view of an attractive colleague or laugh about a joke. I get no compliments on my new tie or aftershave although I can work in my underwear.
Commputer, USA

The directors who run the companies must be sold the idea first, as most employers want to see the amount and effectiveness of their staff. It may take a bit more time before they catch on. I am all for it. I travel 50 - 60 miles to and from work each day and 2 hours per day in a car. This saving plus many others would have a great impact on society. However I still feel it must be seen by the directors of business to be an advantage more to them. The way businesses work would need to be re-shaped and perhaps a more trusting relationship may be needed between employer and employee. Perhaps the government could offer an incentive with tax savings for businesses who adopt the working from home. The savings for business would come from fuel, office space, cars, travel costs etc.
Mike Collins, UK

The amount of money we would save in energy would be incredible.
Art Bunting, USA

From time to time my co-worker and I work from home. We actually get more work done in a shorter time frame, then we would at the office. We both have set aside rooms in our house for a work place. This keeps the children out. Besides if you think children would be a problem, how about those people who stop by just to chat.
We solved the communication problem that most people object to by holding meetings once or twice a week. You would be amazed to see how focused people are when they enter a meeting. Instead of being tired or drained from a days work at the office. You come in knowing exactly what you want to talk about. Meetings that would drag on for hours, with people going off in all sorts of directions are now focused on an idea(s).
Chris Segatti, USA

The ability to communicate effectively is often impaired when there is no eye contact and no ability to read body language. Also the workplace provides a valuable social and recreational experience. Some people who telecommute can feel isolated and as if each day runs into the other. Each day's the same; no significance to weekends.
Also, we don't all have homes that fit the standard middle class model. If living there is relatively miserable then working there is unlikely to be possible.
Barrie Martindale, Canada

As a teleworker for the last 6 years I can say that for many people home working would be a NIGHTMARE! It is a constant struggle between working too long and working too short - of isolation - of depression - of loss of status. In the right situation with the right person who has the right attitude it is fine but most people aren't like that. It would be wrong to even attempt to offer all people the option of working from home because it does depend on so many issues from personality to job content to company and managerial perception not to mention the environmental element and the effect that home working has on other members of the family. Make it possible for everyone but don't let anyone believe that it is a soft option.
Ian Seaton, UK

Since I started working more from home, the quality of family life has soared and it is particularly visible in the younger of the children.
Ian Biggs, UK

I used to think I would prefer working from home. As an undergraduate, that's what I do most of the time. However, during my summer vac work I found myself working much more productively. I also prefer the sharp distinction between time that is spend on work, and time spent at home, which is lost while teleworking. I do believe, however, that more people should be given the choice to do what suits them.
Russell Dewhurst, UK

yes yes yes...workers will then become project oriented rather than punch the clock oriented.
Janet, USA

The idea of missing colleagues at work is wrong. Working from home allows the growth of real friends and not competitive friends. The work place often assumes that they are the only people you know.
Tony Worrall, UK

I'm a journalist. I work mostly in an office but occasionally work at home. I hate working at home-even though commuting on the London Underground is horrible, I need the stimulation of colleagues in a working environment. Working at home one or two days a week would be tolerable. However, nobody should get the idea that working at home is a substitute for effective childcare - it is not. Childcare is, itself, a full time job.
Henry Gee, UK

For those of us that are married, I think it has a severe downside. Being more of the time at home makes internal conflict more likely.
Samy, Italy

Working from home can be demoralising, distracting and confusing. Employers may well see it as an opportunity to appear "employee friendly" but at what expense? Most social contact occurs between people in the workplace, so we are cutting ourselves off from a valuable source of human interaction in order to save office space or appear "concerned" about the welfare of our employees.
As someone who worked 5 days a week from home I found it quite stressful and at times quite isolating. My current regime of 1 or 2 days a week appears to have found for me the right balance between the need for social interaction with people I have to work with and trust and the flexibility that home working offers.
Ross Hall, UK

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