Working from home is the new casual Friday. It's one of those perks that many employers have incorporated into their policies, but it's still not the norm and most everyone wishes it were.

Employers have several reasons for wanting to limit the amount of work you do from home. They're not just being sourpusses about the situation, even if that's what you think. Most bosses who are hesitant to expand their telecommuting policies are afraid of giving employees too much room to mess up. Think about how many business casual experiments went awry when someone showed up in clothes more suitable for club-going. All you need is one blockhead to ruin it for everyone.

Many of these fears, however, are unfounded. At least that's what Kate Lister and Tom Harnish say in their new book, "Undress for Success: The Naked Truth About Making Money at Home."

According to Lister and Harnish:

• Surveys have shown telecommuters, or e-workers, experience more productivity at home than at the office.

• Employers worry about not being face-to-face with their staff, but phones, e-mail and chat programs make everyone accessible.

• Real estate, administrative and relocation costs are dramatically lessened by telecommuting, so e-workers don't actually cost companies more money. They cost less.

Employers are beginning to catch on to the benefits of telecommuting, but many workers don't realize that their jobs can be done as effectively at home. So even if their bosses would be OK with working remotely, they never think to take advantage of it.

Source:Anthony Balderrama
careerbuilder.com