Perceptions and expectations: why people choose a telecommuting work style

Telecommuting creates a host of opportunities and challenges for managers and workers. Based on the results of a 26 semi-structured interviews, we explore individuals´ motives underlying the decision to telecommute. In addition, our purpose was to investigate and understand the advantages and disadvantages of telecommuting from the worker´s perspective. References to advantages, disadvantages and motives in the interviews were extracted, categorized and prioritized. A similar procedure was performed on a sample of 40 articles on telecommuting concerning advantages and disadvantages. The literature categories were used as the context in which to discuss the research findings. Motivations to telecommute included: the relaxed atmosphere at home, cost savings, more time to spend with family, lack of commuting and avoidance of office politics. Motivations to stay at the office included: the need for social interaction, career visibility, need for direct supervision and a desire to separate home and work life