Notwithstanding Marissa Mayer’s move to ban telecommuting at Yahoo, telecommuting is on the rise. It is the fastest growing of all workplace benefits according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Between 2005 and 2012, telecommuting rose by 79 percent.

Companies are quickly recognizing that telecommuting policies are necessary to avoid a brain drain. Many of Canada’s top 100 employers have telecommuting options, including the Bank of Canada, L’Oreal Canada, Molson Coors, National Ballet of Canada, and the National Energy Board.

What Makes Telecommuting So Attractive?

Beyond the obvious benefits of getting to work in pyjamas, telecommuting offers many. According to Inc. Magazine, telecommuters save $2,000 to $7,000 per year in child care, commuting, on-the-go meals and work clothes. Employers also save $11,000 per year per employee with smaller offices, furnishings, phone services, etc. Employers also find lower turn-over which seems to be driven by happier employees. The environment also wins with fewer cars on the road.

Telecommuting is so highly valued by employees that an estimated 45% of workers are willing to take a smaller salary and a further 31% would take fewer holidays in exchange for telecommuting options.

Telecommuting also seems to give a boost to our productivity. A Stanford University team led by Nicholas Bloom worked with Ctrip, China’s largest travel agency, to study 250 workers over nine months. They found that home-based employees worked 9.5 percent longer and were 13 percent more productive than their office counterparts.

6 Tips to Make Telecommuting Work

With the rise of telecommuting, it is important to get the most out of this arrangement. Here are six tips to do just that:

  1. Invest in Collaboration

It is easy to fire off rapid-fire requests to colleagues you see on a regular basis. But when you don’t have regular face-to-face connections, these abrupt emails can be construed negatively. Take the time to foster relationships and connect on a personal level over email and phone. Use your limited office time wisely to foster strong relationships with those around you. Walk the halls. Go for coffee with colleagues. Never eat lunch alone. This will help to reduce any communication hiccups that may otherwise happen over email or phone calls.

  1. Establish a Routine

Establish a predictable routine by declaring when you are and are not in the office. Batch your out-of-office work like client visits to cut commuting time. Work from home in the early morning to clear out focused work and avoid battling traffic. Plan your meetings and other collaborative activities for when you are in the office.

Some people are reluctant to establish a routine because they don’t want to draw attention to the fact that they are working from home. This is based on the false perception that people are slacking off when not in the office. Focus on results and tailor your work location based on what you are trying to achieve.

  1. Set Clear Objectives

Establishing accountability is critical regardless of whether telecommuting is happening or not. On that note, many companies are embracing the ROWE model (Results-Only Work Environment) where employees are held accountable for results and not face time. Establish a great system to track your commitments and focus on meeting your deadlines. If you deliver as expected, no one will have grounds to criticize where you work.

  1. Use Technology to Your Advantage

With programs like GoToMeeting, Google Circles and Skype at our disposal, video webinars are easy to set up these days. Put your work clothes on (at least from the waist up), turn on your webcam and you’ll connect better with the other person. While not quite as good as being there in person, it is the next best thing. This Positive Health Wellness article provides insight on how we can use technology in ways that improve, not hinder, our health.

  1. Establish a Work Zone

The line can be blurred between our professional and personal lives when we work from home. It helps to have a work zone carved out with a clear desk, organized files and dedicated office supplies. If your family is constantly using your desk and borrowing your pens, it is hard to stay productive. There is nothing wrong with taking a break to throw some food in the slow cooker. After all, breaks give our productivity a boost. However, it helps to establish clear work hours so you are not constantly getting pulled in one direction or another.

  1. Strike a Balance:

While telecommuting can boost our productivity, it can also lessen our chances for promotion and contribute to loneliness. Leverage the benefits of both home and office-based work by incorporating both into your week.

Mayer’s mandate to bring workers back to the office was a step towards reconnecting teams across Yahoo!. In Mayer’s words: “people are more productive when they’re alone … but they’re more collaborative and innovative when they’re together.” On that note, I suspect that Mayer and her executive team will, in time, selectively incorporate a blend to leverage the benefits of each work arrangement.

Overall, telecommuting options, when done well, can help everyone on the team. What other tips do you have to make this a successful arrangement?