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We figured out how to telecommute ... now it's not fashionable!

By: Cathy Dunkin | 03/07/2008

Sue Shellenbarger this week in the Wall Street Journal wrote that companies like AT&T, Intel and Hewlett-Packard are bringing employees back into the office, often after those employees have worked off-site successfully for several years. As a result, some are quitting.

Darn – and just this week our team at Standing Partnership proved it's efficient and effective to allow our employees to work from anywhere – and still maintain a high level of client service.

We've suffered through a long, freezing winter … lots of snow, ice and sleet, with most of it falling during rush hours. We don't want anyone to be out driving when it's not safe. However, our commitment to client service means we must be available 24/7.

Some of our recent investments in technology and training allow everyone on our team to work at home (or at Starbucks or wherever) with complete access to their office desktops.

And this week, during a major snowstorm, it worked beautifully.

On inclement days, our leadership team connects early in the morning, then notifies everyone via office-wide voicemail if we're going to close. I confess I hate my role as “school superintendent,” which requires determining if the weather people may be right or wrong, how bad things may get during the day and whether to open the office or not. Nevertheless on all such days by 6 a.m., we decide what to do and leave the message: “We're open!” “We're closed!” “Come in on the snow schedule.”

Frankly, this year we've guessed wrong about the weather every time.

So, kudos to our team when we were incorrect again and decided this week's storm wouldn't be a big one. Each person took personal responsibility for his or her own work and safety – deciding individually about coming into the office or working from home using our improved technology. We kept everything going without a hitch. “Standing South,” “Standing Northwest” and “Standing Central” all functioned across the St. Louis region, and we communicated easily with our clients, with each other, and with our Charlottesville, Va., office.

As a side note, I had meetings outside the office all day. None cancelled, so I spent my day soaking wet, cleaning 10 inches of snow off my car, and finally stuck behind a stranded bus. Some things you just have to do in person, unfortunately.

How does your company handle inclement weather? What about telecommuting? We're committed to it, even if it's not fashionable any more!

Posted in Culture