Telecommuting refers to working at home at least 2 days a week through virtual devices. Telecommuting seems to mesh with the cultural transition to knowledge work (which often can be performed anywhere) and, people with more education are more apt to work from home. Not all types of jobs are suited to telecommuting. Face-to-face customer interaction, manufacturing, and other types of front line work cannot be done off-site.

Writers, attorneys, analysts, and employees who spend most their time on computers or the telephone—including telemarketers, customer service representatives, reservation agents, and product support specialists—are candidates. As telecommuters, they can access information on their computers as easily as in the company’s office.