Telecommuting Is Win-Win Option

* In “Companies Turning Cool to Telecommuting Trend” (Dec. 28), Bonnie Harris zeros in on key concerns that confront (and sometimes confound) those undertaking work-from-home programs. But telecommuting is just one option among the flexible work schedules available to bright and demanding workers and their enlightened employers in our knowledge-based economy.

Compressed schedules and job sharing are other examples of different ways of working. Their appeal to employees has grown sharply, and employers of choice consider them a must-have. As a longtime flexibility consultant, I have seen hundreds of companies and thousands of managers come to see telecommuting as a path to increased productivity and a catalyst for improving management skills.

Superior program design and exceptional training are essential to overcome the potential negatives. Ms. Harris explains that Merrill Lynch “began a ‘telecommuting school’ at its New York headquarters to better train its employees and managers about the practice.” Not surprisingly, this competitor for the best and brightest on Wall Street “regards telecommuting as a positive benefit and actively promotes it.” Such well-designed and well-managed telecommuting programs deliver excellent recruitment, retention and productivity results. Hundreds of such companies are still bullish on telecommuting.

PAUL RUPERT

Rupert & Co.

Washington, D.C.