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Telecommuting — Virginia

Telecommuting is a workplace option that permits employees to work at an alternative worksite, such as the home, for one or more days per week. Partial or total substitution of telecommuting for an employee’s daily commute to work has been made possible largely through the use of computer technology. Although the term was coined in 1973, the concept is now being used by large and small companies alike, which has advantages for both employer and employee.

While as of 2018, only 24% of U.S. employees did all of some of their work from home, telecommuting currently is a trend spreading even faster than COVID-19. Many companies are now asking their employees to telecommute as a social distancing technique to help contain the spread of coronavirus, while keeping employees productive.

The telecommuting “virtual office” might consist of a phone, laptop computer, facsimile and/or scanner and voicemail capabilities. Since these items are now widely available and affordable to most employees and companies, employees can work virtually anywhere. An employer considering telecommuting as an option for employees might expect the following benefits: