Can an economic downturn really be good for anyone? It can if it means more people will be able to telecommute as a result.
Mike Elgan of Computerworld says that companies are looking for ways to cut costs without hurting productivity, and that telecommuting is an efficient way of doing that.
Economic downturns, painful as they are, have a tendency to force new priorities on everyone. The cost savings and efficiencies inherent in the digital nomad lifestyle can become irresistible during recessions, and so the trend in that direction is accelerating.
It’s not just companies that are looking to cut costs either. Telecommuting can reduce costs for workers such as child care, business clothing, dry cleaning, lunches out as well as commuting expenses. A priority for many is to reduce their carbon footprint and telecommuting is one of the best ways to become greener.
The Wall Street Journal recently asked a group of energy experts how we can keep our oil addiction at bay despite falling prices. One expert’s suggestion:
Employers should adopt four-day workweeks and permit or expand telecommuting. A four-day workweek would eliminate 20% of commuting. Telecommuting could eliminate even more. Management Technology Associates studies show win-win-win benefits. Businesses reduce premises’ costs, overhead and labor with gains in productivity of 10%-40%. Workers enjoy significant fuel and time savings. Society reduces fuel use, traffic congestion and pollution.
Today, more than 12 million employees telecommute or “telework” more than 8 hours a week, up from about 6 million in 2000, according to Gartner Dataquest, an IT research and advisory company. The number will hit nearly 14 million by 2009. The bottom line is that telecommuting is definitely on the rise and the economic downturn may very well help to accelerate it.
Today I came across a very cool work at home opportunity. The company is Internet Girl Friday, a group of Virtual Assistants that work for business owners and executives. According to the website, some of the services they provide are:
…creating blogs, WordPress installations, managing client’s Facebook profiles, sending press releases, bookkeeping, arranging travel, tracking business, updating websites, sending newsletters, giving remote computer support, managing email, placing calls, setting up appts/meetings, ordering gifts/groceries online, generating new leads, researching, …all the things that hold you up from having any time leftover for yourself.
What makes IGF unique is that when someone hires them, they get more than just a Virtual Assistant. They get a whole team of people that are spread across three time zones working for them.
The site is owned by Jennifer Goodwin.
She’s setting out to let everyone fire their day boss. She’s setting out to help the world! She’s setting out to win the world’s Coolest Boss award! But for now, she works from home and she needs more people to help.
She just might win that award too. Not only has she created a terrific niche for herself and garnered lots of media attention, she’s got a sense of humor too. In her FAQ section, in answer to the question “Why am I not getting a lot of work?” she answers “Maybe you stink. Just kidding”. It’s refreshing to find someone who can take care of business and laugh at the same time.
So, if you’ve got solid administrative skills or you’re a social networking guru or new media queen you might be in luck. Jen’s looking for people with a “Rockstar work ethic” that want to work from home. Does that sound like you?
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