Though it's often assumed that folks who telecommute work less than their in-office counterparts -- the opposite is actually true, according to The hard truth about telecommuting, a report from Mary C. Noonan with the University of Iowa's Department of Sociology and Jennifer L. Glass with the Department of Sociology and Population Research Center at the University of Texas at Austin.
According to the report, 24 percent of employed Americans reported in recent surveys that they work at least some hours at home each week. And where the impact of telecommuting has been evaluated, "it seems to boost productivity, decrease absenteeism and increase retention," the report states.
But it also means that those employees who telecommute (who are typically salaried) are working 5 to 7 extra hours each week, which equals anywhere from 260 to 364 extra hours per year -- an additional 32 to 45 days.
And, not surprisingly, telecommuting is not helpful in reducing work-family conflicts, according to the report.
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