does anyone telecommute? quick question...

[acejka]

I was told by my boss to research what kind of pay cut people take when they've stayed with their current job, but started telecommuting.

Has anyone here done this? What percent pay cut did you take if you don't mind me asking?

I currently help manage a store, and I do a lot of office/computer work. I am the only person who knows their computer system, and while it works good, telecommuting (I am moving to FL next week) would allow me to spend the time to make it work great and clean the system up, learn the rest of the ins and outs. To train someone else to do this would cost them a lot of time and money and it isn't a very easy system to learn. I also spend time with customers, make orders, manage the high school kids, take care of the money/bank and write the schedule. Except for helping out customers and the banking, I can still pretty well do the rest of my job from FL.

We aren't sure what kind of pay cut to give me. This is a family owned business that my close friend's family owns and we are feeling our way through this new situation of me telecommuting and nobody has done it before for the company. Obviously I am prepared to take one since I won't be physically on the property and availible for certain things, but how far did you go? Or would you go if you were in my situation. 10%? 40 %? 0%?

We know what I need to bring home just to cover fun money and extra money for savings and bills, but I'm going to loose a lot here-a commute, work clothes, stress, wear/tear on my car etc. I'm gaining a lot too-since they want to make me salary (which I know can be risky-no OT, but it wouldn't be a problem in this situation) the freedom to pick up my fax machine and go away for a weekend but still work a bit, ability to run a few errands in the middle of the day on certain days (some days will require me to stick close to home all day, others won't its a pretty set schedule of which days those would be)

 

[m&m's mom]

I did not take ant pay cut when I started TC'ing.
My situation is a little different. I work for a very large Top Fortine 50 company. It was a win-win for us. Those of us working from home can work in any weather in any situation.
I am saving a lot of $ in gas and eating out lunches but since we are casual the dress is pretty much the same.
Good Luck!!!!

 

[k5jm]

You are saving the company money when you telecommute. You are saving resources at the office, you put in more time due to not driving into and away from the office, no coffee, no breaks. Do not take a pay cut. You should also ask to be compensated for and office materials and office space you use at your home office. Also have the office pay for your internet and office related telephone expenses. That is standard procedure for our company.

 

[Bunnyfeather]

I also took no pay cut. I am doing the same great job and now I provide my own office space and electricity. You said you could do your job BETTER if you telecommuted. So why should they pay you less for better work?

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I would say no pay cut.

Yes, you will not have commuting expenses. But you may need to install a dedicated phone line at home and possibly even a dedicated data line. And your utility bills will go up as you are home during the day. And who will provide routine office supplies, etc.

 

[Nancy]

no pay cuts in the company I work for if you telecommute. Why would there be a pay cut?

 

[golfgal]

I agree, you should not take a pay-cut. No one I know that works from home has taken a paycut to do so, in fact, some of them have gotten raises for doing so because it actually saves the company money.

 

[camlace]

I absolutely agree with everyone else...why in the world would you take a pay cut

Same as a PP I also work a professional job for a very large international company and work almost exclusively from home. The company pays all my phone/internet charges to allow me to hook up from home. I get a stipend for office supplies. While there are plusses on both sides, my employer and my side...I think the company definitely wins. I am technically in a 40 hr position and if I worked at the office it would be a struggle to "clock-in" 40 hrs since I have a long commute and day care to contend with. By working from home I have to say I work at least 50-60 hrs most weeks. I work for 2 hrs before my daughter gets up for school, then put in another 8ish while she is out of the house and then it is not unheard of for me to be back online after she goes to bed.

 

[Christine]

Well, I telecommute sometimes but no pay cut as my duties didn't change.

If I read your post correctly, you work somewhat with the customers and yet you have this computer stuff you do right? So, if you telecommute, your duties with the customers in the store will come to an end?

So, if you were to take a paycut, I would determine what percentage of your duties you won't doing anymore. If customer service is 50% of your job, and the computer portion is 50%, then you would probably need to take a 50% cut because you will be losing that much of your current duties.

But, I'm just not sure if I understand your original position that much.

 

[design_mom]

I agree with Christine.

If you are maintaining all of your job responsibilities then I don't think you should take a pay cut. (I telecommute some days and spend some days in the office. I did not take a pay cut when I started doing that.)

However, if you are giving up some some job duties (managing the store), and not taking on any new ones, then a pay cut may be in order. I think the new salary should be based on the amount of work that you're continuing to do -- not where you're doing the work.

 

[acejka]

Intersting responses everyone! Thanks!

To clear up a few questions/comments, work is paying for the phone line call forwarding features, the fax macine and all office supplies. I never took regular breaks at work because the hectic nature of our business was go go go go go. They may hire someone to do some small office tasks, fax things to me answer phones etc, but most of my responsilbilites will be absored into extra hours for other current employees. And I will be dropping responsiblities, but I will be picking up more responsibilites with the computers because there simply was not enough time to go more into the inner workings of this system because we had customers, phone calls, employees and vendors to deal with. Being away will allow me to do a lot of indepth work with the system.

Since they will be loosing an experienced sales person I do think I need a pay cut, since I won't be there to help in that way and I don't think they will be able to hire another person who will fit the job since the hours and pay won't be too big and most people we've interviewed need more pay more hours less of a contract etc-they see the job as something for transit period in their lives, where as I love the job and while its not a "career" I just love what I do, its hard work but I like to get up and go to the store, don't mind long hours etc.

 

[Pumbaa_]

you many be dropping responsibilities but you are also gaining more responsibilities

I work for a Fortune 500 company and we 'homeshore' staff constantly. Not only do they not get a pay cut, we provide all the equipment they require for the job as well as pay their internet service bills

A prior company I worked for also provided all office furniture for staff deployed to home

If you are hourly, and plan on working less hours, that is your paycut. If you are salary, I would suggest you move to hourly and get paid for the hours you work.

otherwise, when your responsibilities increaase and you end up putting in more hours, you won't have to go back tot he boss about a pay INCREASE!

good luck!

 

[vettechick99]

I'm not sure what I did was telecommuting, but I'll tell you anyway.

I worked for a large newspaper company. I had JUST been trained when I had to move away with my husband. They offered me an Independent Contractor's position. I was no longer an official employee so I didn't get their benefits anymore. They paid me on an hourly basis based on my previous salary. I had been making $30k plus benefits, and after I left, I was making $36k. BUT I had to pay my own taxes and find my own benefits. It was basically a wash.

HTH some.

 

[mom2travel]

No pay cut here either, but I did not cut back any job duties. My company supplies and maintains my computer equipment, and also provides ink, paper, etc. We pay for my phone line, but I am reimbursed for any work-related extras not covered by our phone plan.

 

[bicker]

I've never heard of taking a pay-cut due to a switch to telecommuting. If employees doing a specific job are going to be worth so much less to the company if they telecommute, then perhaps folks doing that job shouldn't be allowed to telecommute. And that really gets to the crux of the issue: People should be paid based on how much value they offer to the enterprise, not based on how much it costs them, to live, and/or cost them to get to work, or anything equivocations like that. It is all about value, not cost.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I telecommute and just got a promotion and raise last year.

I would not take a pay cut. Here's why. Your knowledge of their computer system is very valuable and not easy/inexpensive to replace. They can find another sales person much easier than they can find a computer expert. Even though you are "seasoned" in a banking environment that skill is not proprietary unlike a computer system. It is easily transferable.

Do you know how much IT people get paid? They get paid a whole lot for their knowledge. And I bet your employers know this!

As long as you have a full work load (not a part-time thing) I would not take a pay cut. It is in their best interest to keep you on as they would have to pay a lot of money to a consultant or another full time IT person to do what can. As another poster said, it's all about the value of your work.

It sounds as if you are a hard worker and are very loyal to your employer. That is good, but don't sell yourself short!

 

[bumbershoot]

I agree, no pay cut.

Don't employers usually find their costs are lowered when they have people telecommute???

 

[wheatenwalker]

I telecommute and so do most of the people on my team- no pay cuts... the company also put in a business phoneline, internet line and paid for office furniture ( chair, desk, filing cabinet, printer/fax/scnner) and all office supplies.
I do have to work in the office sometimes, for meetings, training etc

 

[Kennywife]

I telecommute for my job as a writer and I expect to be paid what I'm worth. You're doing the same job, just at home. I worked at a B&M (brick and mortar, or on-site) places and now strictly telecommute. I prefer telecommuting. So, I would say no pay cut. You deserve just as much pay as someone who works on-site.

Anna

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was told by my boss to research what kind of pay cut people take when they've stayed with their current job, but started telecommuting.

Has anyone here done this? What percent pay cut did you take if you don't mind me asking?

I currently help manage a store, and I do a lot of office/computer work. I am the only person who knows their computer system, and while it works good, telecommuting (I am moving to FL next week) would allow me to spend the time to make it work great and clean the system up, learn the rest of the ins and outs. To train someone else to do this would cost them a lot of time and money and it isn't a very easy system to learn. I also spend time with customers, make orders, manage the high school kids, take care of the money/bank and write the schedule. Except for helping out customers and the banking, I can still pretty well do the rest of my job from FL.

We aren't sure what kind of pay cut to give me. This is a family owned business that my close friend's family owns and we are feeling our way through this new situation of me telecommuting and nobody has done it before for the company. Obviously I am prepared to take one since I won't be physically on the property and availible for certain things, but how far did you go? Or would you go if you were in my situation. 10%? 40 %? 0%?

We know what I need to bring home just to cover fun money and extra money for savings and bills, but I'm going to loose a lot here-a commute, work clothes, stress, wear/tear on my car etc. I'm gaining a lot too-since they want to make me salary (which I know can be risky-no OT, but it wouldn't be a problem in this situation) the freedom to pick up my fax machine and go away for a weekend but still work a bit, ability to run a few errands in the middle of the day on certain days (some days will require me to stick close to home all day, others won't its a pretty set schedule of which days those would be)

Pay cut? Oh heck no. After watching my dh telecommute no way should you take a pay cut. They expect you to be at their beckon call.

Since you are moving out of state, I would probably opt out. I would not accept a pay cut.

And why should you? They expect you to do the same work for less? Um nope.