Telecommuting is becoming a popular mode of work because of the flexibility that comes with it. One group that is experiencing the benefits of telecommuting is work-at-home mothers (WAHM). This group is comprised of women who prefer to work from home because they are in a better position to balance work and their personal life. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 21 percent of employed adults are currently working from home or they have used that option in the past. In fact, this idea of WAHM is prevalent not only in the U.S., but also in other countries such as Canada, the U.K. and Australia.
This growing acceptance of WAHM as workers has led to the emergence of online communities and support forums where mothers help one another find work opportunities and better balance their work and family life. These forums see abundance exchange of tips and information to improve the productivity of WAHMs. Many of these women use social media and conference call services to help others out. There are websites that cater only to finding job opportunities for WAHMs, such as Mom Corps in the U.S., and Just Mums Recruitment in Australia.
One aspect that has made it possible for women to have a career and financial independence without compromising on their family commitments is technology. Conference call services, for example, have made it easy for women to communicate with colleagues and improve collaboration. It even offers the flexibility to call from any landline or mobile phone, so that scheduling can be easily accommodated. More importantly, conference call services enhance the productivity of WAHMs in a big way because they can accomplish more within the same period of time.
In short, this idea of WAHM is a win-win situation for both stay-at-home-moms and employers, as the former get to have a career while the latter has the chance to tap into a wider pool of talented and productive workers.
Edited by Maurice Nagle