techie telecommute

Technology workers will give up the fast-track careers, management opportunities and even money if only they could have one thing: the opportunity, if only part time, to work from home.

A recent survey of technology professionals conducted by techies.com found that while only 46 percent of respondents said they were presently telecommuting, 96 percent said they would like to work from home at least a couple of hours every week. And 39 percent said they would even take a pay cut to do so.

Conducted in August 2001, the survey asked technology professionals ranging from PC operators to cios to describe the pitfalls and advantages of telecommuting. Most of those surveyed said the advantages outweighed the disadvantages, but they also acknowledged that telecommuters might have to accept a slower rate of career development in exchange for working at home.

The most motivation for working at home was to avoid the commute to work. Techies in highly populated cities, especially on the West Coast, were particularly likely to desire the loss of the morning drive. Second on the telecommuter motivation list is the desire to create flexible schedules.

Thus far, the survey shows telecommuting to be heavily dependent on position. Only 32 percent of entry-level workers practice any form of telecommuting, while 67 percent of those professionals with 10 or more years of experience telecommute at least a few hours a week, the survey says.

Of those who currently telecommute, more than half work 10 or more hours each week at home. However, relatively few technology professionals— outside the self-employed—were full-time telecommuters.

With headquarters located in Bloomington, Minn., techies.com is a Web site that focuses on the career advancement of technology professionals. —J.S.