Teleworking

Over the last several decades ICT has changed a lot in the work place leading to companies who would have never existed before existing now, adaptions being made with other companies and many people being replaced as new technology is brought in.

ICT has led to a big change in the way a lot of people work. Because of the Internet and the ability to communicate with the company network from anywhere in the world, many workers now work part time or full time from home. It is a new method of working.

Advantages

For individuals

- You can work the hours you want, for example you could get up at 6am and finish by lunchtime.

- It makes possible to work around family commitments, for example young children or elderly parents.

- You can take a break when you want one.

- It saves a huge amount of time that would normally be spent travelling to work. You can spend that time working instead. It is estimated that the average person spends around 4 hours travelling to work each week. That is a lot of time sat in a car!

- You save the cost of petrol that you would normally need to travel to work and also the cost of car parking tickets.

For the company

- They can employ people who don't live near to the office. This means they can choose people who might be willing to work for lower wages.

- If there is a shortage of skilled labour in the local area then they can get the skilled staff that they need from elsewhere in the country.

- they might be able to keep hold of valuable members of staff who might otherwise leave, for example, women who have just had a baby.

- they can have smaller premises so they save money on rent.

- they get workers who might be more satisified with their jobs and thus be more committed or work harder.

Disadvantages

For individuals

- It is hard to feel like you can ever get away from work.

- You might end up working longer hours than you would in an office.

- You might always be 'on call'. Because you are at home, the office might think that you are always available to do just a bit more work

- There can be a lot of distractions and you might be tempted to do other things rather than work

- You can miss out on the social side of work.

- It might affect your career prospects. If a promotion comes up in the office, you might not be thought about for the role.

For the company

- They are not always sure that people are putting in the right amount of hours

- Work might not be delivered on time

- Workers might not be at home to receive an email or urgent telephone call

- Work might be of a lower standard than when produced in the office

- Hard to motivate staff and have a feeling of a good company spirit.

- Managers still like face to face contact with employees

- Firms might have to address the criticism that they are running 'digital sweatshops'

- There might be legal issues such as insurance and health and safety implications 

Why teleworking is possible

• 
  
  video conferenceing-talking to clients overseas without paying, or the company paying for travel
• 
  
  webcams-talking to your boss who may be in the office
• 
  
  instant message-receiving tasks instantly
• 
  
  e-mail-sending and recieving files with attachments

ICT is more likely to have changed someone's work rather than led to them losing their job. People in certain professions have had to be retrained to make use of modern technology:

• Secretaries now use word processors and not typewriters.
• Travel agents book holidays by computer, not by phone or letter.

• De-skilling has taken place. Some jobs which needed a high level of skill in the past can now be done more easily. For example, print workers today can use DTP software to lay out their work.
• Designers now use CAD software rather than pencil and paper on a drawing board.