How To Buck The Trend Against Working From Home

By Larry Buhl

Yahoo's recent ban on telecommuting -- an effort meant to "raise employee morale"-- raises questions about the possible downsides of work-from-home jobs. Statistics from the Telework Research Network show that half of the U.S. workforce has jobs that are compatible with at least part-time telecommuting, and nearly eight in 10 employees would like to work from home. But if being out of sight also means being out of mind, telecommuting might not be worth the benefits.

Experts agree that working from home does not necessarily stall careers. But they do have several recommendations for determining whether it's right for your situation and how to make it benefit you and your employer.