There are many mistaken definitions of what telecommuting means. The very name gives the impression of someone answering work telephone calls from home or typing furiously away at their computers.

Traditionally, telecommuting meant that an employee was linked from home to their companys computer network. But today telecommuting is much broader than that and really includes anyone who does even a portion of his or her work at home. This can include the computer or telephone work the name implies, but it can also mean researching, working on drawings, or performing other types of information analysis. Telecommuting really is as simple as a person working from somewhere outside the office.

There is also a misconception among many of todays workers that you have to own a business to work from your home. This just isnt always the case anymore. More and more people are able to perform their jobs from home. Now more than ever the business world is realizing the variety of benefits telecommuting can have on companies and their personnel.

Exactly what are the benefits of telecommuting? Here are just a few:

1. Less time for commuting means more time with the family.

Even if a workers commute is only 30 minutes each way, which isnt much in todays business world, not having to take this commute can add an extra 5 hours a week an employee can spend with his or her family. This is 5 hours the employee wasnt previously working or doing personal things. Just 5 hours of dead time during the week getting from one spot to another.

2. Telecommuting can also provide a person with the ability to handle personal appointments without having to take entire days off.

Employees can take an hour or two through the day to go to doctor appointments or school conferences close to their homes and simply make up the time later in the day. This can equal higher productivity for employees.