We received some additional feedback, in response to last week's story, "Help (with Gas Prices) Wanted: Job Applicants Seek Low-Cost Commutes." Walter Knoll, of Walter Knoll Florist in St. Louis, has between six and 10 employees who telecommute — one who is having a difficult pregnancy, another who's living abroad, in France, and others who moved but can work from their new locales. Knoll shares his thoughts, via e-mail, on the pros and cons of telecommuting:

"The pros are the pool of employees is full of very qualified workers that may be overlooked by other employers. Also, work-at-homes can be called in for peak loads for times like the morning rush and to cover lunches. For the employees, they get a great deal of freedom on when they will work. On the cons it takes more and different management skills to watch and direct work-at-homes; this requires additional systems and procedures to allow for accountably."

--Kate Penn
kpenn@safnow.org

 

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