December 17, 2010 10 Questions To Ask Before Offering Telecommuting

Telecommuting is becoming more commonplace. It's not unusual to see people working in coffee shops and cafes, parks, at the beach, and from their kitchen tables. Many employers are offering their employees the opportunity to work remotely. And the federal government is one of those employers.

Last week, President Obama signed the Telework Enhancement Act into law. The law requires all federal agencies to establish telework policies within six months. According to information from the Office of Personnel Management, approxmately 1.2 million federal employees could be eligible for telework by June 2011. Under the Telework Enhancement Act, federal agencies are required to determine telework eligibility for their staff and notify all workers who are eligible to telework under the new policies. Additionally, each agency must establish a telework managing officer who reports directly to the agency's head.

Many private sector employers have been offering teleworking opportunities for their employees for years. And now that the federal government is offering a telework option, some employers may be considering offering their own telecommuting program. Telecommuting can be a win-win situation for employers and employees alike. But before jumping head first into offering telecommuting, employers should be aware of some potential legal issues raised by remote working. Kristina Klein and Ashley Hager have identified ten areas to consider before taking your telecommuting program live.