Service quality is a paramount issue and some organizations must maintain sufficient
staffing to guarantee quality on-site service. However, these days a lot of service is provided
online or by phone. One of the reasons for designing a telework program, rather than offering telework
informally, is to establish protocols to ensure that client service remains unchanged.
Organizations can install or expand their telephone and computer networks so that teleworkers have the same
access and presence at home as they do in the office. Clients won't know where employees are working. Face
to face meetings in the office can be scheduled for in-office days, or employees can travel to the client's
office.
For organizations that aren't ready to invest in connectivity technology, there are alternatives,
like having telephone calls and emails forwarded and limiting telework to tasks that don't require client
contact.
Telework training should reinforce professionalism when dealing with clients from home; answer the phone
professionally, no "home" background noise, look professional when participating in web or video
conferences with clients, etc. In most cases, clients should not be able to tell if the employee is
working from home or not.
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