Telecommuting and Motivation: What Works, What Doesn’t
Telecommuting means working remotely, allowing telecommunications tools and digital technologies to ensure the employee is connected with the office and able to collaborate and communicate with coworkers. There are many models of telecommuting, from full-time telecommuting arrangements to allowing workers to telecommute one or two days a week. Some of the most successful firms have telecommuting policies that allow employees to work remotely. Even companies like Yahoo, which backpedaled somewhat on the issue, have recently returned to telecommuting if for no other reason than working from home does seem to improve productivity and hours spent on the job (Peck, 2015). While being in the office does enhance team-building and collaboration opportunities, working from home means fewer distractions and longer hours. Workers can divert the time spent commuting to the office towards working on projects, and also feel better equipped to balance work with household or family obligations.
Applying Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Motivation can show why telecommuting is so appealing and satisfying to employees, and why employers also benefit from having a flexible telecommuting policy. Abraham Maslow proposed a needs hierarchy to demonstrate the underlying factors of human motivation. All human beings are motivated to fulfill basic needs first, such as the need for food, shelter, and clothing. Once basic needs have been fulfilled, we strive towards what Maslow considered higher needs, such as the need for security, the need for social belonging or friendship, and the need for self-fulfillment. Human resources managers readily understand the needs hierarchy, incorporating Maslow’s hierarchy of needs into effective workplace design and company policies (Tanner, 2017). At the very least, a worker is motivated by reasonable remuneration for work or labor. Yet there is much...
References
“Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory of Motivation,” (n.d.). Management Study Guide. Retrieved online: http://www.managementstudyguide.com/herzbergs-theory-motivation.htm
Peck, E. (2015). Proof that working from home is here to stay. Business. Retrieved online: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/18/the-future-is-happening-now-ok_n_6887998.html
Tanner, R. (2017). Motivation: Applying Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. Retrieved online: https://managementisajourney.com/motivation-applying-maslows-hierarchy-of-needs-theory/
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Both observation and experiment provided the underpinning for Abraham Maslow’s theory of human motivation. Maslow (1943) posits, “man is a perpetually wanting animal,” leading to the constant striving to fulfill goals (p. 370). If and when anything prevents the fulfillment of a goal—whether the obstacle is internal or external—discomfort or psychopathy can occur (Maslow, 1943). Although Maslow’s original research was conducted decades ago, recent research on motivation and human behavior
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