Houston traffic - why isn't telecommuting/flexi-schedules the answer? (transfer, budget)

[ipuck]

Originally Posted by eastontracks

Especially when I'd show up at 9, begin my day grinding away while I saw co workers show up at 9 but go on a Starbucks run close by, come back, sit at their cubicle, talk a little here and there, and not really start on much until almost 1030. By 4ish, I was done and ready to leave(but had to stay 8-9 hours or else it would be frowned upon). Many would stay until past 6 easily.

That is the answer right there. Most people cannot manage themselves to work on time and effectively unless THE BOSS is walking by and checking up on them.

Working at home takes a certain self-starter mentality that most people do not possess and never will.

[Kiovo]

Working from home isn't for everyone and isn't for every job. I don't think the OP was refering to all the jobs should be worked from home. It should be a privilege to work from home and only when you have proved yourself at work. Exempt employees are paid to do a certain amount of work, non-exempt are paid to work a certain amount of hours. Some days I can wrap everything up in 3 hours, some days it takes me 9 hours. There's no point in me sitting at the office from 7-4 just because. There's more incentive to finish your work, working from home. If i can get it done in 3 hours, I have the rest of the day to run errands or cook dinner. I do like going into the office and usually do 3-4 times a week.

Employers should look into telecommuting and flex schedules and see if it will work for their company. I know I am less stressed and have more time to spend with the family due to my schedule. It seems most people are already stressed and in a bad mood before they even get to work due to traffic. If Houston can get 10-20% of drivers off the road during rush hour that will make a big difference.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by ipuck

That is the answer right there. Most people cannot manage themselves to work on time and effectively unless THE BOSS is walking by and checking up on them.

Working at home takes a certain self-starter mentality that most people do not possess and never will.

If you ask the OP, he'll tell you that you are making that up

[key2thecity]

Originally Posted by Dopo

If you ask the OP, he'll tell you that you are making that up

The Op is a female. And no, I wouldn't. Again, EVERYONE is not an ideal telecommuting employee. I don't care about those people. I care about the ones that WOULD work and feel they should have the opportunity to telecommute. That would be one less person on the road during rush hour traffic. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?

[gsmj]

Originally Posted by Kiovo

If Houston can get 10-20% of drivers off the road during rush hour that will make a big difference.

10% off the road for tele-commuting, 10% off the road (at any given time) for flex-commuting, and another 10% off the road from a real commuter-rail solution and suddenly I-10 wouldn't seem that bad after 6am.

[Dopo]

Originally Posted by key2thecity

The Op is a female. And no, I wouldn't. Again, EVERYONE is not an ideal telecommuting employee. I don't care about those people. I care about the ones that WOULD work and feel they should have the opportunity to telecommute. That would be one less person on the road during rush hour traffic. Why is that so difficult for you to understand?

ok, ok
still, I think commuter rail and HOV lanes work better

[J_Treehorn]

Originally Posted by key2thecity

You're right. I'm definitely being anecdotal. No real research involved. Just a suggestion to go along with a million others. I believe this did work for the Best Buy corporate office a few years ago. I'm not sure if they're still doing it though. My company does it as well. We're international with a small staff of about 300, but we make money and haven't suffered for it yet. I don't really feel the need to quantify my hypothesis on City Data, though. I'm just not that interested because honestly, I doubt it would ever happen, but it seemed like an interesting thread to start. I'll check out the link though. Thanks! (not being sarcastic, btw)

Understood - at it's best, CD should be a place to bat around theories and share some knowledge. I'm all for progressive ideas - but I am also a grumpy skeptic.

[Meyerland]

Just read this about the increase in telecommuting in Houston based on the census data.

FlexJob Brie Reynolds says Houston businesses telecommute more frequently than others - Houston Business Journal

Here is the census data regarding commuting.
http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/...prodType=table

[Zodiac mindwarp]

just remember, if you can do it from home, you can do it from india...

[thompsons211]

Originally Posted by Zodiac mindwarp

just remember, if you can do it from home, you can do it from india...

Unfortunately, this is true....if you can do it from home, we (or they) can just pay someone a whole lot less money to do it from India. This is so sad but true.