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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]I manage a team where someone (or multiple people) are teleworking every day of the week.  I don't suspect anyone of not working (productivity is easy enough to monitor), but I really hate the resulting environment.  Since TW has been implemented, I've seen a drastic decline in teamwork, interpersonal communication, and general team morale.  It's not that people don't get along; it's just not a very dynamic work environment.

And I can't believe anyone who would tell me that having everyone on a conference call together is anywhere near as engaging as having everyone in a meeting.  All of you have kind of made that point by acknowledging that while you are on calls, you are folding laundry, watching news, making dinner, driving kids, etc.  Imagine an in-person meeting where someone is looking at their phone or reading a newspaper during the meeting.

- Guy who's in the office every day[/quote]

Studies disagree with you. The new open office floor plan, for example, which companies put in place to INCREASE communication and team work was just shown to LOWER communication and teamwork. People are protective of their privacy, so they will adapt and find ways to get it. They will IM for example, instead of chat, to get that privacy which totally negates why companies wanted open floor plans. They were also do things like put on noise canceling head phones which leads people to hesitate to talk with them unless absolutely necessary.

Harvard Business Review published this one: https://qz.com/work/1322146/a-harvard-business-school-study-found-open-plan-offices-have-a-surprising-effect-on-our-collective-intelligence/
[/quote]

There's a lot of middle ground between telework and open office floor plan.  I think the ideal situation is people are in the office, but they have either cubicles with high walls or offices.  And if they have cubicles, there are plenty of community spaces around (meeting rooms, break rooms, etc.).  But this thread does show the problem with telework.  I'm sorry, but people overestimate their ability to multitask.  If you are doing other things while on a call, you're not fully present for the call.  I hate talking to someone on the telephone while they are doing other things.  You can tell that they are distracted and only 60 percent paying attention.  In an in-person meeting, sure, people can daydream or whatever, but it's much more difficult to get away with.  You are definitely more engaged.[/quote]

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