s/o Do you think teleworking has hurt your career?

[Anonymous]

I'm an attorney at a federal agency that allows telework, but I get the sense that it isn't a great thing for career advancement. My division is very collaborative, and it is a bit harder if someone on the team isn't in the office. I would love to telework one day a week, but don't want to give the impression that I'm not serious about my career. FWIW, no members of management in my division telework. I'm not sure if it's disallowed or just not encouraged, but I know they don't do it.

[Anonymous]

I know a person who teleworks from the West Coast for one of Washington, DC's most respected private-sector employers.

They began their career in Washington, but asked to telework when their spouse pursued a job on the West Coast.

This beneficial work arrangement has existed fourteen years, with this person assuming more responsibility, full-time hours, visibility, and promotions within the employer -- as the employer saw that the arrangement was very successful, and the employee's work was excellent.

This person wakes up very early to keep up with a primarily East Coast schedule, but is done earlier in the West Coast day as a result.

When I have visited them, I have been amazed to see how involved they are in their family's life an activities, and how seamlessly they can carry on a professional workday while attired in flip-flops, working outdoors, and attending one of their children's activities.

One benefit is that as long as they perform their work responsibilities so professionally and competently, they are located too far away for co-workers, neighbors, or other acquaintances to make judgments about the circumstances under which they perform their professional obligations (outdoors in aforementioned hiking shorts and sunglasses).

The best part, though, is that they are a very present and involved part of family life, and will still have a wonderful career when family obligations are easier. This person really does have a great, happy, and successful career, and perhaps the best employment arrangement I have ever seen.

My advice would be that if you telework, you do so from far enough away -- preferably in another part of the country altogether -- that no one will expect your presence in the office regularly, or resent the lack thereof. Also, be professional about it, keep consistent hours, and be readily available at all business hours.

[Anonymous]

I telework anywhere from 1-4 days a week (sometimes 5) and my career hasn't suffered at all.

That being said, I'm pretty specialized, and I am very careful about who I hire to supervise. I will only hire people who can be managed remotely and work well under these circumstances.

I am also willing to work extra late at night etc when teleworking- my employer clearly sees I have a lot of skin in the game.

I think it depends on your employer, it depends how hard of a worker you are (and how visible you can make yourself) and your team. You can't have it be successful if you have a lot of passive aggressive chatter on your team about you being "home."

I disagree that you have to be far away. I could very easily come into the office. But its not my arrangement, and I'm careful to not set the precedent that I'm there all the time. I also don't service clients while hiking, but the nature of my business wouldn't work well with that. PPs friend probably has different roles.

[Anonymous]

I telework at least one day a week. Doesn't seem to have hurt my career - I was promoted from a 13 to 14 last year - but telework is also very common at my agency now, and I'm also generally even quicker to respond to emails while teleworking than I am in the office.

[Anonymous]

I think telework is limiting my upward mobility, but it is only because I cannot give it up.

At my agency, non-managers can telework two days per week. Managers can telework one day per week, but most rarely do. I like my job, but would like to move into management soon, and have even passed up an opportunity or two. The problem is that I cannot get myself to give up the telework. I have shaped my life around it (kids schedules, etc.). It becomes so important that it is hard to move ahead.

[Anonymous]

I am looking for a legal government position, but really would like to work with an agency that offers telecommuting. Does anyone know which agencies are more flexible with telecommuting as an option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I think telework is limiting my upward mobility, but it is only because I cannot give it up.

At my agency, non-managers can telework two days per week. Managers can telework one day per week, but most rarely do. I like my job, but would like to move into management soon, and have even passed up an opportunity or two. The problem is that I cannot get myself to give up the telework. I have shaped my life around it (kids schedules, etc.). It becomes so important that it is hard to move ahead.

Why is telework so important? You still have to work your hours And generally core hours. Do you cook while working or something? Is your commute long?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think telework is limiting my upward mobility, but it is only because I cannot give it up.

At my agency, non-managers can telework two days per week. Managers can telework one day per week, but most rarely do. I like my job, but would like to move into management soon, and have even passed up an opportunity or two. The problem is that I cannot get myself to give up the telework. I have shaped my life around it (kids schedules, etc.). It becomes so important that it is hard to move ahead.

Why is telework so important? You still have to work your hours And generally core hours. Do you cook while working or something? Is your commute long?

It's not just the commute time that is shaved off although that is a huge benefit (my commute is 30 min., so telework saves me an hour a day). It's also the fact I can work in yoga pants and a t-shirt without having to worry about putting on makeup, styling my hair, etc. I am a female attorney, so days I go into the office require me to be very put together, which gets old 5x/week. I also save a ton of money on drycleaning now that I only go in twice a week.

I love that I don't have to worry about packing a lunch the night before or end up blowing money on going out to eat at lunch. Now, I just make a sandwich or heat up leftovers when I'm hungry. Same with being able to brew a pot of coffee at home whenever I want instead of running to Starbucks (my government agency doesn't provide a coffee maker).

Oh and I am home during the day if a package comes that I need to sign for. I can throw in a load of laundry or catch up on a DVR show on my lunch break. DH works from home a couple days too, so we get to have lunch together on those days. All my doctors' offices are near my home, so making a lunch time appointment is much easier now and then I can get back to work instead of killing a whole afternoon off. And my favorite part of telework is working with my dog at my feet. He is so happy not to be left alone during the day and I swear I feel less stress hanging with my dog than a bunch of coworkers who pop by my cubicle whenever they want to chat. Seriously -- cubicle life is so distracting and I get way more done at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think telework is limiting my upward mobility, but it is only because I cannot give it up.

At my agency, non-managers can telework two days per week. Managers can telework one day per week, but most rarely do. I like my job, but would like to move into management soon, and have even passed up an opportunity or two. The problem is that I cannot get myself to give up the telework. I have shaped my life around it (kids schedules, etc.). It becomes so important that it is hard to move ahead.

Why is telework so important? You still have to work your hours And generally core hours. Do you cook while working or something? Is your commute long?

It's not just the commute time that is shaved off although that is a huge benefit (my commute is 30 min., so telework saves me an hour a day). It's also the fact I can work in yoga pants and a t-shirt without having to worry about putting on makeup, styling my hair, etc. I am a female attorney, so days I go into the office require me to be very put together, which gets old 5x/week. I also save a ton of money on drycleaning now that I only go in twice a week.

I love that I don't have to worry about packing a lunch the night before or end up blowing money on going out to eat at lunch. Now, I just make a sandwich or heat up leftovers when I'm hungry. Same with being able to brew a pot of coffee at home whenever I want instead of running to Starbucks (my government agency doesn't provide a coffee maker).

Oh and I am home during the day if a package comes that I need to sign for. I can throw in a load of laundry or catch up on a DVR show on my lunch break. DH works from home a couple days too, so we get to have lunch together on those days. All my doctors' offices are near my home, so making a lunch time appointment is much easier now and then I can get back to work instead of killing a whole afternoon off. And my favorite part of telework is working with my dog at my feet. He is so happy not to be left alone during the day and I swear I feel less stress hanging with my dog than a bunch of coworkers who pop by my cubicle whenever they want to chat. Seriously -- cubicle life is so distracting and I get way more done at home.

+1

I also walk the dog every day at lunchtime. Fresh air and sunshine every day. Savings: $15/day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think telework is limiting my upward mobility, but it is only because I cannot give it up.

At my agency, non-managers can telework two days per week. Managers can telework one day per week, but most rarely do. I like my job, but would like to move into management soon, and have even passed up an opportunity or two. The problem is that I cannot get myself to give up the telework. I have shaped my life around it (kids schedules, etc.). It becomes so important that it is hard to move ahead.

Why is telework so important? You still have to work your hours And generally core hours. Do you cook while working or something? Is your commute long?

Telework is beneficial for many reasons. The time spent in the car and in unforeseen traffic jams can be better spent on the computer at home. Sitting in this horrendous traffic is a waste of hours. Driving to work for me is expensive with gas, parking, lunch and I have to pay a dog walker. When I am home, I can take the dog out at noon. Telework for me is financially much better. I imagine this is the case for many people...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I think telework is limiting my upward mobility, but it is only because I cannot give it up.

At my agency, non-managers can telework two days per week. Managers can telework one day per week, but most rarely do. I like my job, but would like to move into management soon, and have even passed up an opportunity or two. The problem is that I cannot get myself to give up the telework. I have shaped my life around it (kids schedules, etc.). It becomes so important that it is hard to move ahead.

Why is telework so important? You still have to work your hours And generally core hours. Do you cook while working or something? Is your commute long?

[Anonymous]

I think whether or not telework can hurt your career really depends on the attitudes and culture at your workplace. At my agency, the prior director was not a supporter of teleworking. Forces outside our agency pretty much forced him to implement telework but the policy was very restrictive and I do think that people looking to move up in their career tended not to telework because of the director's attitude.

But, once the director retired the next level of leadership took over and they have a much more favorable view of teleworking and I don't that choosing to telework generally counts against you anymore.

BUT, you need to be willing to be flexible and be in the office for important meetings. People who fuss about having to come into the office to attend a meeting or training on their scheduled telework day can quickly get a bad reputation.

[Anonymous]

In my group, those who telework tend to not get promotions. It's difficult to supervise people from a remote location and it takes way more time to set up formal gchats/calls to review stuff than to just have a rolling conversation in the day or swing by someone's desk. I think there are many, many benefits to it, but in my specific organization, it puts an undue burden on those in the office to attend meetings and put out fires and that builds resentment.

[Anonymous]

Out of sight, out of mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Out of sight, out of mind.

+1...I telework once a week, but only on Fridays when there are few meetings, and most other managers are also teleworking.