Lot's of interesting reader's comments on Lifehacker discussing the pros and cons of telework.
It's fascinating to see the various points of view as well as the common themes in this type of discussion.
One common theme, not surprisingly given the technological orientation of the people who contribute, is the definition of "telecommuting". Telecommuting is taken to mean someone who works from home using a computer rather than in an office. The "office" is generally a cubical of some sort.
I think it would be interesting to broaden the discussion from just telework (working from a computer at home) to include any work that is not done while sitting at a desk. There isn't any input from say...plumbers, pilots, nurses, ministers, sales people, teachers, barbers, photographers, psychiatrists, policemen, firemen, chefs, writers, baristas, tug boat captains etc ad infinitum.
It's a big world out there, but you wouldn't really know it from reading the comments.
There is interestingly enough one input from a lawyer who says he would never work from home. He has a perfectly fine office that is quiet and comes with a staff of researchers at his beck and call - thank you very much. He, or she, doesn't want to muck up his home with work.
There is a whole wide world of work that can, has been, and will sucessfully continue to be, done away from a desk.
Having said that, moving some desk work from a noisy distracting cube - to home, or Starbucks, or wherever - probably makes sense.
Like so many things in life it comes down to balance.
