In 1997, when the "internet" was still largely synonymous with AOL chat rooms, only 100,000 Americans reported telecommuting. If asked, many 90s workers probably would have guessed "telecommuting" described the way that George Jetson got to work at Spacely's Sprockets.
In 2014, the figure of teleworkers had ballooned to 3.3 million. The number of employers with more than 50 employees that reported allowing their workers to work from home at least part-time increased from 50 percent in 2008 to 67 percent.
In many ways, researchers who study the subject say that's a good thing. A recent study by three professors of psychology finds that telecommuters report higher levels of job satisfaction and lower levels of stress.
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But there's more than a few downsides. There's the issue of "household creep," for one. That refers to the tendency for those working at home to see their domestic duties increase simply because they are there, while their spouse or partner is at the office.
"For women who work at home, this effect may be more pronounced by reinforcing their identification with home and reinforcing gendered divisions of labor," write the authors. But a study last year showed that men dominate telecommuting, suggesting a potential means to equalizing the work-life balancing act that continues to disadvantage working women.
In fact, telecommuters actually drive more than actual commuters. While they may avoid rush-hour traffic jams, they more than make up by driving around town on errands.
And not everybody is meant for working alone. Some people lack the skills to stay focused when working on the couch or they lack motivation without the stimulation of nearby coworkers.
For society overall, telecommuting also comes at a cost. There are negative consequences to employees who do not regularly see each other. They are less likely to form the strong bonds that regular face-to-face interactions encourage. They are also less likely to exchange information, which poses a threat to innovation and evolution for the company.
As a result, the report suggests that companies should offer telecommuting, but shouldn't rely on it entirely. Those who telecommute moderately, they write, experience the benefits of work flexibility without becoming too far removed from their workplace.
"It is important to recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all approach," Tammy Allen, a psychology professor at South Florida University who co-authored the report, said in a statement.
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