Trusting Teleworkers

It turns out that teleworkers are less prone to misconduct than office-bound workers.  It’s uncertain whether this is because

• only the more responsible folk are allowed to telework,
• misbehavior isn’t possible from the isolation of one’s home (just like I was practically perfect  before I got married),
• people behave extra good so they can continue to telework, or
• freedom from being micromanaged makes people behave more like grown ups

I’d like to believe in that last point, as BNN’s Evil HR Lady suggests: People who are treated as capable, responsible adults will act as such whereas people who are treated like lazy, untrustworthy bums are also going to live up to those expectations.  Doesn’t the fact that there are universities that trust their students to proctor their own exams show proof of this?  On the other hand, doesn’t the frustration that we’ve all suffered at the hands of some micromanager indicate that this may not be the most effective way of making people productive? Continue reading →