Reader/software guru Brad Hutchings with an interesting example of telecommuting’s productivity benefits:
I work with a guy in Kentucky who usually has evening plans, so he’s done at 2pm Left Coast time. If I wake up and get started by 6am, spreading the morning chores through the morning, I can get 8 hours of collaborative time available with him. If instead I awoke at 6am to make it into the office by 8am, I would lose 10 hours a week. Working with Europe is a bigger hassle here. On standard office hours, everything with Europe has to be done by 10 am. Try getting anything done with India unless both parties have time flexibility!
Related: Satisfied workers more likely to have telecommuting option (bottom half of post)