CHAPTER 1Why Are Individuals Going Remote? Workplace Flexibility
Most of this book tells you how you can make a success of working remotely, whether you’re a team member, a team leader, or flying solo. But before we get into that, some—especially managers—might wonder how it’s possible to get valuable work out of unsupervised employees. The answer to that question has multiple aspects, the most significant of which hinges on why workers seek remote employment options in the first place. We’ll return to both questions later in this chapter. But to best understand the full picture, let’s take a look at what kinds of people work remotely.
Some Terminology on Remote Working
Individuals who work remotely can be full-time telecommuting employees, contract freelancers—even digital nomads. [Note that all terms identified by bold italics are included in the glossary.] They typically fall into one of three “employee” types: telecommuter, self-employed, and business owner.
A telecommuter is someone who works remotely (usually from home), either full time or part time, on a fixed team for one company. According to research firm Global Workplace Analytics, a typical telecommuter in the United States is forty-five or older, college educated, and works as a salaried, non-union employee in a professional or ...
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