Virtual Jobs Benefit Employers as Well as Workers

Allowing work to be done away from a centralized office saves employers money, boosts productivity and allows employees to have more satisfying personal lives, panelists said at the TRaD Works Forum.

Managers often are reluctant to authorize such nontraditional work arrangements but sometimes can be persuaded when they see the benefits and learn techniques for supervising virtual workers, the speakers said June 9 and 10.

“TRaD” refers to work that is done away from a central workplace by employees who telecommute or work remotely. The workers may be distributed over a wide geographic area. Telework refers to work occasionally performed ...