Use a Telecommuting Agreement to establish the terms and conditions governing how an employee should work from home. Telecommuting is an alternative to commuting to and from the workplace. Given today’s new communication technologies, like VoIP hosted PBX systems that can seamlessly connect an employee from anywhere. Therefore, this arrangement is an increasingly popular means to reduce overhead costs and provide flexibility to employees.
Telecommuting is often used by employers to attract and retain employees. But, it is necessary to outline the terms of such an agreement in writing. The Telecommuting Agreement is critical for anyone considering a telecommuting arrangement. It contains information related to:
- employee evaluation
- inspection
- pay status
- and equipment ownership and liability
Below is a model of a telecommuting agreement. Modify it for use in your organization. For a more detailed Telecommuting Agreement, you can search online or go to Rocket Lawyer and purchase one.
Telecommuting Agreement
I have read and understood the attached Telecommuting Agreement, and agree to the duties, obligations, responsibilities, and conditions described in that document.
I agree that I am responsible for establishing specific telecommuting work hours. And, I will furnish and safely maintain my remote workspace by employing appropriate telecommuting security measures. Further, I agree to protect company assets, information, trade secrets, and systems.
I understand that telecommuting is voluntary, and I may stop telecommuting at any time. At any time, I know that the company may change any or all of the conditions for telecommuting. And the company can, at any time, withdraw permission to telecommute altogether.
Remote work location:
Employee residence
________________________________________
Company premise
________________________________________
Description of workspace at the remote work location
________________________________________
Telecommuting schedule:
Weekly as follows
________________________________________
Monthly as follows
________________________________________
No regular schedule (separate permission for each telecommuting day)
________________________________________
Regular telecommuting work hours:
From ______ to ______
Meal break/other breaks:
________________________________________
Company assets to be used at remote work location: (Description and ID numbers)
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Company information systems to be accessed from remote work location: (List)
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Non-company equipment, software, and data to be used at remote work location: (List)
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Other
________________________________________
________________________________________
________________________________________
Signature: ____________________________________
Final Thought
Finally, when you allow your employee(s) to telecommute or work from home, a small business owner can cut down on overhead expenses life office space. Additionally, studies show that employees who work from tend to be happier and more productive. So, it is a win/win situation if you communicate the rules from the very beginning. That way, there will be no questions about how the small business owner expects their employees to make it work for both of them.
