Book Review: Taking telework to the masses

By Toni Kistner
Net.Worker, 05/21/01

Telecommuting Success, A Practical Guide for Staying in the Look While Working Away from the Office, by Michael J. Dziak ($16.95, Jist Publishing, 2001)

I dream of landing a full time telework job right out of school. I dream of convincing my boss to institute a telework program that lets us skip that awful commute one or two days a week. I won a telework privilege after 5 years of dedicated service, and now my coworkers resent me. Do you know any of these people? Maybe all of them? I bet you do.

Telework has shifted from niche to mainstream workstyle in just a few short years. And while plenty of books have been written on the topic, one of the most recent, Telecommuting Success is also one of the best. Michael Dziak, a home-based telework consultant for over 10 years, covers every aspect of telework in an easy to read, engaging manner. Hand this book to colleagues, junior staff, your boss, anyone and everyone who needs to become familiar with the world of telework.

Chapters cover a wide range of topics including setting up a home office, avoiding isolation, collaborating with peers and dealing with the boss. Helpful worksheets help you clarify your needs and articulate your goals. There's lots of general information on technology products, trends and advances. Particularly good is the detailed section on home office security.

GOOD for seasoned teleworkers, though many might find the coverage too elemental

BETTER for in-office IT and business managers who need to support and managed remote workers

BEST for telework wannabes and novices

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Toni Kistner is managing editor of Net.Worker. Contact her at tkistner@nww.com.

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