Teleworking today

In the 1980s we saw the emergence of the famous three telework practitioners: Rank Xerox, the FI Group and ICL. This article presents an overview of the status of teleworking today. Teleworking is a flexible way of working which covers a wide range of work activities, all of which entail working remotely from an employer, or from a traditional place of work. Teleworkers may be employed or self-employed. Under this arrangement telecommunications are used to link those doing the work with those commissioning it. Work may be advertised, commissioned, controlled, monitored and delivered using telecommunication networks and systems. Teleworking may be part-time or full-time and includes people working from home (e.g. consultants and programmers), people working from home (e.g. sales staff) and people working at local centres such as telecottages or neighbourhood offices