Telecommuting in the Nonprofit World

​Today‘s blog is being brought to you while I sit on my back porch sipping a cup of coffee and listening to the birds chirp.  It’s a relaxed environment and allows me to work as I need to get my job done.  As a volunteer with the Volunteer Center of McHenry County I certainly appreciate the flexibility this affords me while I support a nonprofit agency from the comfort of my home.  Not that long ago I would not have been able to do this but would have made the long commute into the office to sit in a cubicle and pound away on a keyboard.  Gradually there has been a shift in work environments and how things are being accomplished.

During the mid 1990’s advances in technology made it possible for a new type of work environment to be created.  The era of working remotely was born.  Smartphones, laptops, tablets and a Wi-Fi connection became the tools for modern day telecommuting.  Telecommuting is a work arrangement where employees work outside of the workplace at a remote location…home, library or coffee shop.  All it takes is the technology, a mobile device and a location.

Organizations have discovered that telecommuting programs attract and retain valuable employees, while boosting morale (National Council of Nonprofits). It comes with a flexibility that many employees view as a work benefit.  Working remotely also saves on commuting time and reducing an organization’s carbon footprint.  So, is telecommuting something viable for non-profit organizations?  The answer is YES, but requires planning, policies and procedures.  

The National Council of Nonprofits offers these practice pointers when establishing guidelines for nonprofit employees working remotely:

• Any customized arrangement created for one person should be reviewed by legal counsel to make sure it does not create a risk of being applied in a discriminatory manner.

 

• Ensure that technology is current. This will allow adequate support for those that are telecommuting.  It will also provide the same tools and access to the same information and capabilities they would have if they were in the office.

 

• Find ways for regular check-ins with colleagues who work remotely.  Consider ways to use video conferencing creatively to connect remote workers with their teammates.

 

• The expectations for following workplace policies and procedures should be the same for remote and telecommuting workers as for their colleagues who are regularly working in the office.

 

• Be sure to set expectations about working hours, especially if remote workers are in different time zone. Three rules for success with remote workers:  1) make the work traceable; (2) keep the employee engaged; and (3) create an atmosphere of trust.

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• Nonprofits with virtual offices need to consider how to adjust traditional workplace policies for their circumstances, as well as how to manage the public’s expectations about finding a physical address on the nonprofit’s website.

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Many nonprofits do not operate within a brick and mortar facility.  Employee headcount and budgets restraints may call for a “virtual office” type environment.  It is crucial these nonprofits adhere to established policies and procedures specifically created for working remotely.
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Keep in mind that a traditional work environment may not have roles and responsibilities which allow for working remotely.  Leaders within the organization will need to evaluate and determine what best meets the needs for the nonprofit.  For those that do remember flexibility and communication are key to the program’s success.
 
 
Resources:
National Council of Nonprofits.  Remote Worker and Telecommuting Practices for Nonprofits. 
https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/remote-workers-and-telecommuting-practices-nonprofits

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits.  Benefits of Telework.  
http://www.minnesotanonprofits.org/nonprofit-resources/management-hr/information-technology/benefits-of-telework. 

“We become what we want to be by consistently
​ being what we want to become each day.”
Richard G. Scott