Telecommuting – Bad Career Move?

The majority of studies out there tout the positive aspects of telecommuting: It saves money, it helps the environment and it improves the mental well-being of workers. However, a new pair of studies suggests that telecommuting may be harmful to your career.

Kimberly Elsbach and Jeffrey Sherman of the University of California Davis combined behavioral studies with worker interviews and found that those who worked at the office had a slight advantage over their telecommuting colleagues. The findings revealed that while evaluating their subordinates, supervisors thought better of employees that they were able to actually see in action. Elsbach explains, “If you were [at the office during] normal hours, you were viewed as dependable and reliable.” Employees who were seen at the office outside of business hours fared even better. According to Elsbach, these workers were considered “committed and dedicated.”

Most managers were unaware of the important role that face time played in their employee appraisals. “Our study showed that inferences are likely to be made spontaneously, without deliberate thinking or awareness,” Elsbach says. Often times workers are valued if they are considered a “team player” or they act as a “good leader.” Judging employees by such criteria puts telecommuters at a severe disadvantage simply because they are not at the workplace to exhibit these highly valued traits.

In order to keep up with visible office colleagues, Elsbach suggests that flex-time employees make their presence known. Many telecommuters do this by staying by their computer all day and responding to work emails as soon as they receive them. Others try to send emails late at night to give the impression that they are working hard after hours. When teleworkers do show up at the workplace, it’s critical that they make the most of their time at the office and interact with their colleagues in dynamic ways.

However, this troubled economy has most employees flocking to the office in an attempt to secure their position within their companies. According to recent statistics, even workers who have the option to telecommute aren’t taking advantage. “Although companies are offering employees more chances than ever to work from home, fewer workers are accepting the offers for a more convenient schedule.” More and more employees are foregoing the flexibility of telecommuting in order to make sure they stay on their supervisor’s radar.