Teleworking is known as the work activity that takes place outside the facilities of the contracting company, using information and communication technologies for the development of tasks.
It can be said, therefore, that teleworking is work done remotely. The worker, equipped with a computer (computer) with an Internet connection, can perform various tasks almost as if he were in the company offices. This type of work offers several benefits for both the employee and the company. The main advantage of telecommuting is avoiding the investment of time to go from home to the office. The worker can carry out his work from home, without having to travel to the company’s headquarters. This also makes it possible for the person to work for a foreign company without any problem.
Telecommuting, on the other hand, contributes to cost reduction. The employee does not invest in travel, while the company usually pays for the work received. Technology facilitates virtual contact in several ways: the worker and his boss can exchange emails, chat or participate in video conferences, for example. The worker, in turn, can send their work to the company through email, FTP, CMS or other mechanisms. The freedom to work from any geographic location is one of the most frequently cited arguments by telecommuting advocates. A person can work not only from his home, but also in an Internet cafe, a hotel, a restaurant or even in any public space with an Internet connection. In the previous paragraphs, teleworking is presented as a very appropriate option for the times, since it takes advantage of current technologies to expand job opportunities and at the same time reduce maintenance costs. However, it is not always the most convenient alternative to the conventional way of working, that is, face-to-face. One of its most common disadvantages is the lack of a contract, and this leads to others, such as the absence of vacations and extra pay. Although in many companies the staff does not sign contracts or access the benefits corresponding to their performance, there are several agreements that, despite exceeding what is established by law, partially compensate for these deficiencies. For example, many black workers enjoy paid vacations and even performance bonuses. The same does not usually happen with teleworking and, at first glance, there does not seem to be an answer that justifies the difference, although there is.
As already mentioned, teleworking saves time and money for both parties, employer and worker: the former does not have to cover travel expenses, purchase of equipment or payment of electricity and water; The worker, for his part, although he has to bear the costs of electricity and maintenance of the devices he uses to work, saves time and money on clothes, in addition to being able to organize his tasks in the way that suits him best. . The greater freedom of the worker does not justify the absence of a contract or the breach of the obligations of his employer, but at least it allows him to lead a rhythm of life that is often envied by those who spend a large part of their week in an office. On the other hand, it is important to point out that the teleworker has a salary that is considerably lower than that of the face-to-face worker, and this translates into a greater effort to obtain a salary that is only comparable. There are exceptions, and conditions are improving little by little, with the possibility that in the very distant future, working from home will be an option that is really equivalent to going to a workshop.
