TITLE : ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF TELEWORKING TO BOTH THE EMPLOYEE AND THE EMPLOYER - bIBLIOGRAPHY IS INCLUDED IN THIS ASSIGNMENT

Essay by amirah174University, Master's January 2003

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Information Technology and its effects in Working practices

Information Technology has a great effect on society today, changing lives of many people in school, home and at work. I will be looking at how information technology has had a great effect in working practices. Technology has changed the lives of both employees and employers bringing both advantages and disadvantages. The topic, which I will be looking at, is teleworking and what are its advantages and disadvantages to both the employee and the employer.

Teleworking

Teleworking, sometimes called telecommuting, means working from home using modern technology to keep in touch with your business. Often teleworkers are based at home but they can also work from telecenters and satellite offices. Heathcote (1998) says Teleworking involves carrying out work away from the office and communicating with the employer through the use of computer and telecommunications equipment. Jobs can be relocated to places where it is more attractive, more convenient or cheaper to live.

At present, teleworking is most advanced in the U.S. with only 3% of European employees engaged in teleworking along with an estimated 20 million worldwide. Predictions are that by the year 2006, the number could increase. Teleworking is facilitated by the recent rapid advances in the power of enabling technologies coupled with a significant reduction in their prices. These technologies include e-mail, ISDN, PCs, high speed modems and so on.

Tools Needed For Teleworking

To enable an employee to efficiently work from home they need the right equipment to enable them to do so. This is why the correct tools are essential. Here are the results of a survey conducted by (Http: 1)

99% of teleworkers have a PC.Teleworkers ask for 'financial recompense for wear and tear on own equipment (and home PC hard disk space)'.

95% use the...