Workers Say Telework Is More Productive, Bosses Not So Sure

Lots of telecommuters say they're more productive working remotely, but their employers are less certain that's the case and it shows in the lack of widespread, formal support for telework.

Despite high costs for maintaining acres of office cubicles and the attendant facilities expenses, many U.S. companies are still skeptical that employees can be as productive working from home as from a regulated office environment, according to a new study.

Microsoft commissioned the online survey (available here as PDF), which found a sizable disparity between workers' and managers' viewpoints.

"Sixty percent of respondents to the Microsoft Telework survey -- conducted among 3,600 employees in 36 cities nationwide -- say they are actually more productive and efficient when working remotely," said a statement accompanying the survey results.

Read "Businesses Still Slow to Let Workers Telecommute " at Datamation