RE: Commute/Flex work options a Deal breaker?

["Donald H. White" <dwhite -at- jrtcllc -dot- com>]

I have to think (HOPE) that no one would seriously suggest the use of a
webcam so that a "boss" could check to ensure the remote worker isn't
"sloughing off." Employees and contractors working on-site aren't subject to
webcam surveillance in the good, old cubicle!

First, the assumption that a remote worker sloughs off is insulting. Perhaps
some do; most don't. In fact, most remote workers I know work longer than
their on-site counterparts.

I suggest that, if bosses are busy surveying their workers, remote or not,
by webcam, then the bosses are sloughing off their own work. And, if webcams
and the expensive communications transports needed to sustain 8-12 hour
connections are needed for all, or most, workers, then we have problems far
more complex with which to deal.

Most Sincerely,

Donald H. White
James River Technical Communications LLC
dwhite -at- jrtcllc -dot- com
www.jrtcllc.com


-----Original Message-----
From: techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
[mailto:techwr-l-bounces+leonard -dot- porrello=soleratec -dot- com -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- c
om] On Behalf Of Keith Hood
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2008 7:08 AM
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com; Sarah L Blake
Subject: RE: Commute/Flex work options a Deal breaker?

I was thinking of ways by which someone could keep tabs on a worker, to make
it harder for a remote worker to slough off...It occurs to me that for the
employer, requiring a webcam setup would be a good idea. That way you could
actually see if the guy is at his keyboard when he's supposed to be. It
could be jiggered with a fake image a la "Mission Impossible," but that
would be hard to do. And if you call the worker on the phone and his screen
image is not seen answering, that would be a dead giveaway.



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