Abstract
M. Comm.
Virtual working arrangements, including telecommuting, are on the increase globally
due to the challenges that organisations face in the current global economy. Virtual
working arrangements present considerable possible benefits to organisations,
employees and the community at large if correctly implemented. It is estimated that
45 million Americans teleworked in 2006 alone (O’Brien & Hayden, 2007) with
predictions of the number reaching 100 million in the United States of America by
2010 (Wilsker, 2008). However, in South Africa this organisational form is not well
documented or implemented presently. As a result, local organisations are unaware
of the employee benefits and challenges that will be faced when implementing a
telecommuting programme and how best to implement teleworking arrangements
with these factors in mind.