Author: Donna RRA

Below is a model of a telecommuting agreement. Modify it for use in your own organization.

---

I have read and understand the attached Telecommuting Policy, and agree to the duties, obligations, responsibilities, and conditions for telecommuters described in that document.

I agree that, among other things, I am responsible for establishing specific telecommuting work hours, furnishing and maintaining my remote work space in a safe manner, employing appropriate telecommuting security measures, and protecting company assets, information, trade secrets, and systems.

I understand that telecommuting is voluntary and I may stop telecommuting at any time. I also understand that the company may at any time change any or all of the conditions under which I am permitted to telecommute, or withdraw permission to telecommute.

1. Remote work location:
   
   Employee residence
   ________________________________________
   Company premise
   ________________________________________
   Description of work space at remote work location
   ________________________________________


2. Telecommuting schedule:
   
   On a weekly basis as follows
   ________________________________________
   On a monthly basis as follows
   ________________________________________
   No regular schedule (separate permission for each telecommuting day)
   ________________________________________


3. Regular telecommuting work hours:
   
   From ______ to ______
   
   Meal break/other breaks:
   ________________________________________


4. Company assets to be used at remote work location: (Description and ID numbers)
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________


5. Company information systems to be accessed from remote work location: (List)
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________


6. Non-company equipment, software, and data to be used at remote work location: (List)
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________


7. Other
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________
   ________________________________________

When you want to sell a telecommuting plan for your company to the CEO, you’ll want to put together a comprehensive proposal. Here’s what that proposal should include:

• Executive summary
  Outline the proposal. It is designed to summarize and highlight the key items detailed in the proposal.

• Introduction
  Explain why the organization is interested in telecommuting.

• Definition of telecommuting
  Explain what telecommuting is. Each organization has specific ideas regarding its own program.

• History of telecommuting
  Introduce the background of telecommuting as a concept. Telecommuting has been in existence for nearly 20 years.

• Evaluation of competition
  A critical component of your proposal. Request information from a competitor or similar industry that has a telecommuting program. Include whatever statistics are available.

• Benefits of telecommuting
  List and quantify the potential benefits to the organization.

• Adjustments
  Document what changes should take place in your organization for telecommuting to be successful.

• Objectives
  List the objectives of your program by priority. Include a cost-benefit analysis and/or preliminary cost-justification model.

• Telecommuting policy
  Create a guideline for your custom program.

• Implementation plan
  Detail a time schedule for implementation.

• Selection of telecommuters
  Detail the guidelines your organization will use to select telecommuters.

• Training
  Outline the topics that will be included in the training sessions.

• Focus groups
  Establish who will be responsible for implementation and early evaluation of the telecommuting program and when the sessions will take place.

• Evaluation
  Reinforce the reasons for a telecommuting program. It should provide an overview of the anticipated impact telecommuting will have on your organization and underscore the importance of evaluation.

• Recommendation
  Summarize the benefits of telecommuting for the organization, why it should implement a program, and when that implementation should take place.

• Appendices
  Include examples of materials referenced in your plan.