{"id":396,"date":"2006-04-19t19:40:00","date_gmt":"2006-04-20t00:40:00","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2024-10-01t09:17:16","modified_gmt":"2024-10-01t13:17:16","slug":"tips-for-managing-work-at-home-staffers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/\/www.g005e.com\/2006\/04\/19\/tips-for-managing-work-at-home-staffers\/","title":{"rendered":"tips for managing work-at-home staffers"},"content":{"rendered":"

staffers, supervisors learn how to succeed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

by rick telberg<\/em><\/p>\n

public practice cpas appear to be leading the way for corporate america in developing the concepts and methods for working from the friendly confines of their homes.<\/p>\n

cpa financial managers in business and industry are also adopting new work-at-home flex schedules for valued professionals. and yet, many still have reservations and are seeking guidance on how to do it effectively, while also convincing upper management it truly is the wave of the future.<\/p>\n

ava idom, owner of a small business in dallas, recalls that when she allowed several employees to work from home on a full-time basis, “all of them failed to produce and all of them were subsequently fired.” instead of taking care of business, her at-home crew opted to watch television, play video games and do their housework.the lesson learned, she says, is “the person who works from home must become committed to treating the home environment as the work environment and that’s extremely difficult to do.”<\/p>\n

for many, staff and management alike, it’s a question of finding the proper balance.<\/p>\n

candy wong, an executive with a 500-plus employee company in hong kong, says the problem for at-home workers like herself, is separating the office work from personal matters.<\/p>\n

for others, work at home proves effective for some tasks, but the life of the office remains indispensable.<\/p>\n

ed cordell, a senior executive with a 100-plus employee business in norcross, ga., says that working at home is great for writing, reading and planning, but adds, “it can never replace the interaction with peers in the office.”<\/p>\n

and there’s a risk that at-home workers can interfere with the schedules of those toiling away in the office, he says, adding that arrangements should be made for the at-home workers to appear in person at the office whenever needed.<\/p>\n

in fact, a whopping 93 percent of public practitioners, according to bay street group research, do at least some of their work from home, including 27 percent who worked all of their time at home.<\/p>\n

and most report they are thoroughly enjoying it, especially those who are self-employed.<\/p>\n

among the at-home happy campers, colleen rael, in san juan capistrano, calif., told us, “becoming self-employed is the best thing i ever did regarding my career. i am the happiest, most fulfilled i have ever been.”<\/p>\n

for cpas with employees, technology guru david cieslak<\/a> of the information technology group, says that at-home work is a “key perk to offer top staff members.” and david silver of annapolis, md., added that it helps them fight rising gasoline prices.<\/p>\n

but a chief financial officer with a nonprofit organization, who allows several staffers to work at home, notes that it’s often tough to keep those remote workers motivated. “peer pressure does seem to encourage certain individuals to perform at a higher level,” he says.<\/p>\n

a senior executive with a software reseller adds that some employees tend to be distracted when working at home, further noting, “although the technology is available, it’s difficult to collaborate with and monitor those employees.”<\/p>\n

cpas are not alone in the work at home craze. nearly 4.2 million people in the u.s. worked-at-home in 2000, up from 3.4 million in 1990, according to the u.s. census bureau. and by all accounts, the internet is helping the number to grow at an exponential rate in this decade.<\/p>\n

the fact is: in a new economic world ruled by the value of talent, employers may find it impossible to push against the tide of flexible, decentralized work arrangements.<\/p>\n