Telecommuting in the Tech Industry
The “work from home” model of getting business done is booming across multiple industries. According to a Gallup study, 37% percent of U.S. workers say they have telecommuted, up from 30% last decade but four times greater than the 9% found in 1995. And this figure is only going to skyrocket in the next five years.
Emerging technologies are rapidly creating effective virtual workspaces that make the traditional office obsolete. With Google Hangouts, WebEx meetings, VPN Networks, to name a few tools, it’s easier for employees to stay connected and make valuable contributions without being physically confined to the old cubicle farm.
While remote workers are commonplace in many fields, the tech industry seems to be more readily embracing this trend. For instance, just right now AngelList, a hiring resource for startups in the U.S., has at least 54 postings of remote programming jobs available in South America. Boris Kontsevoi, founder and president of Intetics Co. says, “In the tech sphere, the majority of the work happens on the computer and online. As a result, the location of the person is no longer as important, as long as they have a reliable Internet connection.”
The nature of the tech business certainly makes it the “right” candidate for telecommuting. Most tech jobs, especially the job of a developer or programmer, require strong attention to detail and accuracy. Working from home allows these workers to minimize distractions in their surroundings and increase their focus. For employers, this translates into quick turnaround times and improved quality of work.
STEM-related industries are also facing a shortage of qualified workers, and hiring more remote workers opens the talent pool for companies seeking to fill these positions. In particular, flexible work arrangements make the field more attractive to women, helping close the gender gap that prevails in the tech field.
For companies, the benefits of remote work are endless, including the improved ability to conduct business across multiple time zones while reducing real estate expenses and turnover. For other companies, work from home is a matter of more hours in the day. This is especially true for new businesses, where, time management is of the essence. “Being a small startup, every hour of the day is important,” states Tim Segraves, cofounder and CTO of Revaluate. “If we all spent an hour of day commuting, that would be almost 20 hours a week that would go to commuting instead of building out our product and business.”
Basecamp, the popular web-based project management tool, is one example of a highly distributed, highly effective company, entirely built on a “work from home” model. It started out with four people back in 1999, and today it’s a successful company of 50 people spread out across 32 different cities around the world. Although their headquarters are based in Chicago, everyone at Basecamp is given the option to work virtually.
Employers are certainly catching onto the trend and more companies now offer the flexibility to work from home, at least once a week. It’s changing the way we do business, locally and globally. And although this work style is not for everyone, having the option to work remotely can lead to a more productive, balanced and enjoyable lifestyle.
If working from home sounds like a great fit for you, check out the openings on We Work Remotely and AngelList to find tech companies hiring remote workers.
