Home-based Telework and Telecommuting in Australia: More Myth than Modern Work Form

Many articles have promoted teleworking and telecommuting from home, and have suggested that large numbers of employees are working in this way. However, there has been little academic research on either the productivity of home-based teleworkers, or the psychosocial effects on employees of such programs. One explanation for the absence of such research is that home-based telework is rare, and that reports of its incidence are based on overestimates. This paper reports the results of a survey of 157 Australian companies, including 98 of the 1998 BRW "Top 100" companies. It found few employees teleworking from home. It is suggested the absence of academic research may be due to difficulties in getting adequate samples.