Executives Say Telecommuters Less Likely to Rise Through the Ranks

January 22, 2007 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Executives say that employees working away from the office are less likely to climb the ranks in their careers, but nearly half say they might consider telecommuting themselves according to a recent Trends@Work Quiz.

The survey from the subsidiary of executive recruitment agency Korn/Ferry International found that 61% of 1,320 executives say that telecommuters are less likely to advance in their careers than employees working in traditional office settings.

Even though executives said telecommuting might stunt the career advancement of workers, 48% of respondents indicated that they would consider a job which involved telecommuting on a regular basis and 78% said that telecommuters are either equally or more productive than those who work in offices.

Of the flexible working arrangements executives found most attractive, 46% of respondents most preferred the option of working flexible hours.

The poll also examined whether sabbaticals or extended breaks have any effect on one’s career. More than half (a combined 64%) believe they are either somewhat or extremely beneficial.

The survey covered executives registered within the Korn/Ferry International family of Web sites and was carried out between October and November 2006.

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