The case for and against.

Would you like to be a teleworkers? Teleworkers are people who work for companies, but not in companies. That is to say, they do company work at home, usually on computers.
Teleworkers communicate with their supervisors by telephone or fax. They usually transfer information from their own computer to the office computer by electronic means. Some companies also give video phones to their home workers so they can see colleagues when they speak to them.

‘Teleworking’ is becoming more and more popular in Britain and in the USA; (in the USA, it is called ‘telecommuting'). At the moment, about 6% of the working population employed by companies work at home, but experts estimate that this will rise to more than 15% before the end of the century.

There are many reasons for this increase. The biggest advantage for companies is that teleworking reduces their running costs. Fewer employees at work means less office space. Also, computers are now quicker and easier to use, and the price has fallen sharply. For a company which needs more manpower, one of the cheapest solutions can be to train employees in computer skills and to give them a personal computer to use at home.

But before you apply for a job as a teleworker, you should ask yourself if it is really the best situation for you. Bill Farrar, who works for a big paper recycling company, hasn’t enjoyed his last three months at home. ‘I often fall asleep at the computer because I don’t have anybody to talk to,’ he says. ‘So, at lunchtimes, I often go to the nearest bar – which is just at the end of my road – and then the afternoon is gone!’

Next week, he’s starting a new job in a company where there are five people in one small office. ‘I can’t wait!’ he says.

1. What exactly is a ‘teleworker’?

2. What contact do teleworkers have with their office or head office?

3. What percentage of people in your country work at home, do you think?

4. Why is the number of teleworkers increasing?

5. What are the disadvantages of teleworking?

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