With the rising cost of fuel, more professionals are starting to think about telecommuting. But will it actually come to a point where doing so becomes the norm for knowledge workers? I believe so, but there are a lot of obstacles and conditions that need to be set in place first.

One of these conditions is that employers need to become receptive. Opinions on teleworking vary from company to company, with some supervisors being more resistant to the idea than others. This is because teleworking makes changes to existing business processes, and this change is easily misconceived as costly and a waste of resources. In this case, the success of a teleworking proposal depends on the employee who pioneers it and produces better results than her office-based counterparts.

Another important factor in moving teleworking into the norm is the affordability and accessibility of the technology required for online work. We’re already seeing this happen as wireless internet becomes more prevalent, and as affordable laptops, ultramobile PCs, and dumb terminals are developed further. The affordability of the services and technology is especially important for entry-level knowledge workers, and to those working in developing countries. At the rate the technology is going, the required technology for teleworking will become globally commonplace within the next few generations.

Also, it’s more likely that Millenials or the generations after them will be the ones to make the move. Having grown up with the technology, they’ll be more comfortable with and accepting of it than older generations were when the personal computer was first invented.

Currently, knowledge workers are becoming more familiar and aware of teleworking strategies, to the point that offshoots such as co-working and long term travel-working are emerging. As best practices, strong methodologies, and employer reception rises, there’s a good possibility that teleworking will eventually be a norm. Personally, I have to admit that I’m taken by its current outsider status, but I know I’ll be equally thrilled when all knowledge workers experience the advantages that comes with teleworking.

Do you think teleworking will eventually become the norm? Why or why not? If you think it will be the norm, how long will it take?