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TopBackground
Telework is a growing method of employment with a variety of benefits. Telework enables work from anywhere, anytime through information communication technologies (ICT) (Garett & Danziger, 2006). It was used by 85 of Fortune’s “2012 Best 100 Companies To Work For” and 84 of the 2013 list (CNN, 2013) with the top ten teleworking companies ranging from 40% – 90% of regular users (see Table 1). This award is voted for by employees who evaluate some of the best practices, fairness and services of an organization (Rodensky, Rybeck, Johnson, & Rollins, 2010).
Table 1. Sample of companies using telework. Source: CNNMoney.com/Fortune
| Company | % of Regular Telecommuters |
| Cisco | 90% |
| Baptist Health South Florida | 88% |
| Accenture | 81% |
| Teach For America | 81% |
| Intel | 80% |
| World Wide Technology | 70% |
| PricewaterhouseCoopers | 70% |
| Ultimate Software | 50% |
| Perkins Coie | 70% |
| American Fidelity Assurance Co. | 40% |
Key Terms in this Chapter
Physical Distance: Variances in space, time and environment.
Operational Distance: Psychological gaps regarding workplace issues.
Telework: Work done remotely from the office using some form of telecommunications; also referred to as telecommuting.
ICT: Information communications technology.
Knowledge Worker: Researchers, planners, analysts and/or developers who acquire, manipulate, and analyze information.
Affinity Distance: Emotional separation between virtual team members who have no personal relationship.
Virtual Distance: Working and communicating mainly, or exclusively, through technology.