Is telecommuting right for you? - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Is telecommuting right for you?

If you work in an office, chances are you can do most if not all of your job from an office in your home.  In many cases, all that is needed for you to telecommute from a home office is dedicated phone lines and high-speed Internet. Technological advancements in telecommunications, video conferencing, virtual workspaces and online communities are making it easier than ever before.

You don't have to work at home all the time to go virtual. Even telecommuting two and a half days a week can save the average worker from $1,700 to $6,800 a year. That's a lot of savings on gas, maintenance on your car, and a lot of CO2 not going up into the air. You'll also save on parking, clothes and food.

Working from home has been proven to reduce stress, illness and on-the-job injury. People who work at home are more likely to exercise regularly and eat healthier meals—with fewer fast food lunches – and have fewer sick days.

Teleworking full- or part-time improves work/life balance, saving you as much as two or three work-weeks of free time a year that would have been spent commuting. That means you'll have more time for family, friends, community and leisure.