ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 28, 1996 TAG: 9601310104
SECTION: NRV ECONOMY PAGE: 26 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG
SOURCE: LISA APPLEGATE STAFF WRITER
Shane Tilson, a software developer with VTLS in Blacksburg, says she's been much more productive since her move. Her boss says the move was an excellent investment.
Tilson's move wasn't up, to a plush corner office. She moved out - four hours out. From Blacksburg to Herndon.
But her job at VTLS, a software company that produces automated systems for libraries around the world, moved with her.
After her marriage more than a year ago, Tilson moved to Northern Virginia and joined the estimated 8 million employees in the United States who telecommute and spend part or all of their week working from home.
The number of telecommuters will increase 20 percent every year, according to a recent estimate in U.S. News & World Report, particularly as technology simplifies electronic communication. Companies such as AT&T and the Environmental Protection Agency keep part of their work force at home.
One reason for the dramatic growth is the 1990 Clean Air Act, which required large businesses in polluted cities to cut back on the number of employees who drive to work alone.
Another reason is simple economics: It's cheaper for both employer and employee to set up an office at home.
For Tilson, the savings range from the obvious - lower car insurance and no transportation costs - to the subtle. "I don't have the expense of eating lunch out every day," she wrote via e-mail.
Her boss, VTLS President Vinod Chachra, said the company spent less than $6,000 to set up Tilson's home office - complete with a personal computer and Internet connection, plus a fax machine and telephone.
The money was well spent, he said, especially since the company had already invested so much in training and development for Tilson.
The greatest benefit of telecommuting is increased productivity, according to nearly half of 155 companies surveyed last year by a New York business-research organization.
"I am much more productive at home than in the office," agreed Tilson. "There are less distractions."
Although she misses the social interactions, it's easier to work without the "attitudes my co-workers have from one day to the next."
Working from home keeps her relaxed, but motivated, Tilson said. She uses a room set up solely as her office and generally has to keep regular business hours. But she can wear whatever she wants.
Chachra said the addition of telecommuting workers was difficult for some supervisors, who had to learn to focus on results an employee produces rather than the time seen working.
But Tilson said her supervisors have been very helpful. Her biggest problem has been trying to maintain communication with VTLS, particularly because she uses a local Internet access provider.
Often, she said, too many people are trying to use the provider and the connection is slow.
And, she said, "e-mail does not get as quick of a response from co-workers as questioning them in person does." Tilson has learned who responds quickly to e-mail and who needs a call on the company's 800 number.
Stephen Hacker, director for the Center for Organizational Performance Improvement at Virginia Tech's Corporate Research Center, breaks up his week by working an average of two and a half days on the road, one and a half in the office, and a fifth day at home.
"I find that being out on the road or at home isn't good enough - I have to have the human reaction."
Hacker uses an IBM computer at home and a Macintosh while on the road or in the office - and his network manager is responsible for handling it all.
"I see that as a net-net gain," he said. "Companies are finally beginning to wise up" and use all that technology and employees have to offer.
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Mia Musolino. Shane Tilson's new office has fewerby CNBdistractions - and she can wear whatever she wants.