Calling it In: How to Telecommute in Finance

As companies are working to cut costs in a down economy, telecommuting is becoming more popular than ever. This includes the finance world. If you company encourages you to work from home more often, is it an opportunity that you should take, or is it a challenge that’s more trouble than it’s worth?

There are huge benefits to telecommuting. For one, there’s no commute, which saves time and travel expenses. Saving on transportation also doubles as a Green effort to help the environment. When flu season hits, you’re less likely to catch your desk neighbor’s cold. Many employees are also better able to focus and be productive when working from home.

However, there are also a few drawbacks. Workers who have more social tendencies may miss the noise and action of a bustling office, but more importantly, client relationships must still be emphasized and developed. Telecommuters should make an effort to remain available to clients and visit with them just as often as they did before telecommuting.

Maintaining client relationships is a key concern with the transition to telecommuting. This issue merges seamlessly with another, which is creating a designated office space at home. Having a specific area where you can work (and only work) will get you in the right mindset for being productive, allow you to store sensitive documents safely and properly, and help clients feel comfortable with the arrangement.

Install a second home phone line just for business so caller ID shows the company name, not your residence. Work with IT at your office to make sure calls to the office transfer seamlessly to your home line; this way, no one has to be alerted that you are working from home on a certain day.

To stay in the loop, schedule a weekly call with your boss and put together a monthly lunch to meet up with colleagues. When you visit the office to work, don’t just sit alone at your desk; tour around the office and make conversation so you can catch up with people and make your presence known. If there is a call scheduled with people in the office, try to do it with video conferencing, which will give you more of a presence.

Working from home is a big responsibility, but with the right strategy and a little personal management, it can be a fantastic experience that’s good for you and your company.