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According to a recent study from the International Telework Association and Counsel, the number of employees working from home has risen a staggering 50% since 2003. With that significant of an increase, it's safe to say that both employers and employees are finding this to be a mutually beneficial arrangement.

While there's no doubt that technology has greatly expanded the ability to work from home, the real factor driving the trend is money. Both the employer and employee can save significant amounts through telecommuting.

Here's a list of the top benefits for both parties:

-Lower Office Costs For The Employer-
With the average office lease in America costing just over $2.00 per square foot, a 10' x 10' cubicle costs an employer $2,400 per year! By having employees working part or full-time from home, an employer can save tens of thousands of dollars annually in rent. When you add in the cost of janitorial, utilities, and furniture, the deal gets even sweeter!

-Lower Commuting Costs For The Employee-
According to the Bureau of Labor, the average American spends 48.8 minutes, round-trip, on their daily commute. In addition to the $5-6 per day ($1000 per work year) in gas savings, telecommuting also limits the wear and tear on an employee's car. As a bonus, both the employee and employer can feel great about doing their part to save the environment.

-Lower Turnover For Employers-
Hiring new employees, even at a lower starting salary, can be very expensive. Not only do you have the loss of productivity while a job sits vacant, but you also have the costs of conducting a job search and training a new employee. By allowing employees to telecommute, who might otherwise quit due to parenting or distance concerns, a company can help guarantee its continued productivity.

-Higher Productivity for Telecommuting Employees-
For the right kind of employee, even part-time telecommuting can boost their productivity. In addition to being more emotionally present when they're actually at the office, telecommuting employees tend to avoid things like office politics and hanging out around the water cooler.

-Increased Health, Sanity, and Quality of Life for Employees-
Study after study has shown that most employees who work from home are healthier in every aspect of their lives. Not only does their physical health improve, which lowers company health costs, but the quality of their relationships and job satisfaction increase.

If you're an employer looking to cut costs and boost productivity, it's a must that you consider letting qualified employees work from home. If you're an employee, and feel like working at home would benefit you, approach your employer with the pro's for both you and them. Chances are, it is a win-win situation!

Learn more about this author, Ken Clark.
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