A new study about telecommuting echoes an old adage: Misery loves company. While the option of working from home makes employees happier and often more productive, it may have the opposite affect on those still stuck at the office.
Golden acknowledges that other factors may come into play to increase or decrease job satisfaction or intentions to leave the company. These include the amount of time coworkers telecommute, how much face-to-face interaction occurs, and the amount of job autonomy allowed to employees.
Employees who have to come into the office while coworkers telecommute may tend to find the workplace less enjoyable, have fewer and weaker emotional ties to coworkers, and feel less obligated to the company.
"While reasons for the adverse impact on non-teleworker's satisfaction are varied, it potentially could be due to coworker's perceptions that they have decreased flexibility and a higher workload, and the ensuing greater frustration that comes with coordinating in an environment with more extensive co-worker telework," said Golden.
"In addition, it may be that with a greater prevalence of teleworkers in a work unit, non-teleworkers may find it less personally fulfilling to conduct their work due to the increased obstacles to building and maintaining effective and rewarding co-worker relationships."
That doesn't mean allowing telecommuting is a bad idea, though. It has very positive impacts on the employees who are able to do so. It may mean that employers need to be more vigilant in ensuring employees at the office get the face-time and autonomy they need.
But don't expect them to like neckties or high heels.
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