internet connection | Telecommute Job Online

Telecommuters can work from anywhere and increasingly, they are leaving behind the confines or working at home to enjoy the flexibility that comes from being able to virtually work from any location with an Internet connection.

The next generation of workspace is based on total mobility. To be able to work in your vehicle at other remote locations, and while in transit between here and there. Our society and communities are tackling the issues associated with connectivity and communications. We know where our weak spots are in rural areas, and we are finding ways to bridge the technological gap.

We are adapting to cloud computing, secure online storage, and a variety of platforms that can do the heavy lifting of keeping us connected and secure from any location on our green Earth.

Better Use of Existing Technology

It is not enough to have a basic working knowledge of the new soft technologies that are supporting our higher connection and efficacy. It is important to have extensive knowledge of each tool, to understand its intricacies and all that it is capable of.

An organization could fall into the trap of having so many different tools to utilize for performing particular functions because answering the call of the quick fix,

“We need this, what program can help us do it now?”

When you should be asking the question,

“Is there any program or service that we are currently using that can help us do this?”

Too many tools will cost your organization productivity, which is an unnecessary cost to pay in the digital age.

Brainstorming Online

A problem that still exists for telecommuters who work from anywhere is live online masterminding or brainstorming sessions when separated by geography and time zones. The further the distance, the more inconvenient it might be to participate in live sessions.

By providing an organization and/or department-focused chat-client can help to preserve those precious moments which are the highly creative expression of a hallway drive-by or instantaneous chat at the water cooler, without losing time or having to call a special meeting to get a quick answer or idea.

Not as Good as Live

Even so, there exists a growing concern over live, organic employee interaction is declining, even with the best technological advancements, due to lack of telecommuters’ willingness to participate at the same level.

In a live office situation, employees are much more likely to reach out to others in passing, this spontaneous interaction is what appears to be lacking in the current wave of connectivity among coworkers, and it is not because we don’t have the technology. It appears that workers who are more likely to be supportive, proactive, and willing to express their concerns to other coworkers or ask for help are hesitant and even resistant to reaching out via the Internet.

Social engineers are aware of this social anomaly and they are looking for ways to bridge the gap between the Internet and face-to-face interactivity.

This seems to be the weakest link in the communication chain at this time in the work from home revolution.

Connectivity is the key ingredient in telecommuting and moving your job online, which is not a problem for most metro areas, but for under-developed or outlying rural areas, this might be problematic. You may have the desire to work from home, but do you have the ability?

First, there are equipment requirements. If your employer does not supply you with the necessary equipment, you must have at least a phone, computer, and an Internet connection. Not having the tools necessary to telecommute will exclude you from the ability to work from home in the new world.

As this new home working environment emerges from the rubble of the COVID-19 pandemic, concessions may be made and subsidies offered by government agencies to expand service areas to include those hard-to-reach areas where little or no connectivity is problematic.

In metro areas and many communities, coworking establishments are springing up to enable those without adequate resources to share office space and equipment. This is a more than reasonable solution for expanding the abilities of those who do not have access to the minimum requirements for telecommuting.

Transportation to and from the co-working space is the next issue, but these coworking spaces will greatly reduce commute times and expenses for those who utilize these services which can act as a bridge for telecommuters with limited resources.

It will take time and effort to change the way we do business in the United States. While many Americans embrace the idea of working from home, there are others who are well adapted and prefer to conduct work from a corporate office. Some people prefer to keep a clear demarcation between work life and private life. Then there are workers who have become dependent on face to face interaction amidst the work environment and they find solace in this break away from home. These are the people who will find it less easy to convert to video chat and adapt to the telework environment.

As the world of work transforms, will staying at home cause more psychological stress on those who depend on corroborating and commiserating with coworkers for social stability and mental health support?

In our pre-pandemic society, dysfunctional families are rescued and are allowed to sustain themselves longer as family units because the family members are able to seek social interaction outside the home. This is important to maintain mental health and sanity in an otherwise difficult living situation.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, we have already seen the impact that basically being imprisoned or celled-in with at-risk family members has not fared well, as domestic abuse rates have skyrocketed. Increased rates of depression and suicide have indicated there is great concern with not being allowed to access what we have come to rely on as “normal” social interaction.

But keep in mind, that this is only temporary. Once the restrictions are lifted, the public will be able to resume all their normal social activities. The only difference being that telecommuting and working from home will become more of a valid option when looking to return to work if you’re not already telecommuting.