Telecommuting is supposed to be everywhere: it’s the dawn of a new age, where almost everyone works from home, reducing costs to employers and skyrocketing productivity. But is this actually the case? And where are all these work-for-your-company-from-home-ers, not self-employed yet still enjoying the flexibility and freedom that telecommuting permits?

I’ve worked for several large companies over the years, enjoying the benefits that the corporate environment provides, but I’ve never found an environment better than that provided by telecommuting. Interestingly, however, my only experience with permanent telecommuting was in the last 6 months of my previous job, when my wife was severely ill and I had to stay home to look after her while also working full-time. My boss commented that I was as productive as ever, and the fact that I often worked sporadic hours, sometimes through the night, had no effect on the running of the business - my work was being done when it needed to be done (as we provided support across several timezones), I was involved in conference calls and I could still talk directly with others I was working with via IM or the phone.

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