Persuading Your Boss:
"Make a Case for Telecommuting" Guide
The Telecommuting Agreement

The Telecommuting Agreement

Whether you are persuading your employer to support your telecommuting arrangement or you're part of a corporate initiative that's mandated the telecommuting program, agreements between you and your employer should be thoroughly discussed and clearly documented. Issues that should be covered by the agreement include:

1. TERMS & CONDITIONS

• Nature and scope of the telecommuting arrangement.
• Limitations and rights associated with the telecommuting arrangement.
• Clarification of the employee's job function, title, compensation and benefits, as well as a statement specifying that these are not altered by the telecommuting arrangement.
• Costs (e.g., telephone installation and service, equipment, Internet/cable connection fees, post office box or mailbox fees, etc.) the employer will and will not reimburse in connection with telecommuting.
• Insurance coverage the employer will provide, as well as any coverage the employee is expected to purchase.
• Rights and limitations of workers' compensation coverage for accidents in the home office.
• On-site office inspections the employer will have the right to make.

2. EMPLOYEE EXPECTATIONS

• The employee's specific and measurable accountabilities, including measurement methods and projected review dates.
• Number of days the employee will telecommute.
• Specific days or number of days in an established timeframe that the employee will be in the main office or a satellite office.
• Hours of availability the employee will maintain in the off-site office.
• Frequency with which the employee will be in contact with the office, e-mail, voice mail, etc.
• Any minimum standards regarding office configuration, safety and security features.

3. COMMUNICATION PLANS

• Alternative methods by which the employee will maintain communication with co-workers and others.
• Frequency with which the employee and supervisor will talk, meet face-to-face, review results.
• Type and frequency of meetings the employee will attend as a remote or on-site participant.
• The plan for communicating the telecommuting arrangement to and securing commitments of cooperation from co-workers and support teams.
• Projected timeframe and process for review of the telecommuting arrangement and for making any necessary adjustments to the agreement.

4. EQUIPMENT

• Specific equipment the employee will purchase, provide and maintain at his/her own expense.
• Specific equipment the employer will provide, service and maintain, including how such equipment should be procured.
• Restrictions on the personal use of company equipment or supplies located in the employee's home office.
• Ownership rights the employer maintains over equipment, software, reference materials, supplies, etc. and how such property will be returned in the event of termination of employment.