Poll Question, and telecommuting

["BethK" <kanerb -at- concentric -dot- net>]

I just noticed the latest Techwr-L poll question -- how would you describe
your company-provided computing environment. It appears I'm the only one (so
far) who voted "Other." This is because I'm a full-time telecommuter for a
Silicon Valley-based startup that requires everyone to provide their own
equipment (they provide a portion of needed software). So I thought, with
this message, I'd hit a couple of topics.

Everyone in my co. telecommutes, all the way up to the CEO. I am more
productive and feel better working at home than I ever did (or was) in an
office. I don't know if I can ever go back to office work. I think we've
heard all the pros of telecommuting. The cons, for me, are all
communication-related (besides paying for my own computer equipment, that
is). It would be nice if there were a local office I could go to when I
wanted to get more communication; of course, that's just not possible in a
100% telecommuting company! We have occasional in-person all-hands meetings,
but sometimes those occasions can be as much as six months apart. We also
have monthly all-hands phone conferences, but that's insufficient. The
various teams also have teleconferences at least once a week, and that helps
most of all.

We are all supposed to be available on ICQ when on duty, but several people
choose not to be. ICQ is supposed to provide the virtual hallway; you can
see who's available to talk at any given moment. Some of us use it just to
ask "is now a good time for me to call you?" and set up a better time to
talk. I use it a lot with two of my main team members, and it works
beautifully for us. Some other people show themselves as available on ICQ,
then do not answer ICQ messages.

We are all supposed to be responsive to e-mail, but many are not (especially
management, because they get hundreds of e-mails a day). We are all free to
phone anyone in the company, any time, and put the long distance charges on
our monthly expense reports. But most of us choose not to. I don't like
using the phone; others prefer the phone, and shun e-mail. In person, you
could get around these incompatibilities and just show up at their doors
whether they like it or not.

Some people who have worked for us have been unable to hold up in the face
of isolation and/or too much freedom. But most of us who have stayed are
doing a good job, helping the company, and getting a lot done.

This is definitely not a good environment for beginners. But if we continue
to hire only senior-level people, I think we will be fine. Every job has
disadvantages, and this job has fewer than any job I've ever had. I work
with terrific people. The advantages are MANY. I'm loving it!

Beth Kane
Senior Communications Specialist
PersonalGenie, Tucson Group
bethk -at- personalgenie -dot- com
www.personalgenie.com


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