Employees who frequently work from home may be hurting their
chances to advance their careers, a survey by Korn/Ferry
International reported on Tuesday.
So-called telecommuters are less likely to advance than peers who
work in traditional office settings, according to 61% of the 1,300
global executives surveyed. That is despite some three-quarters of
executives considering telecommuters to be as productive as their
desk-bound colleagues, the survey found.
Workers climbing the corporate ladder need "face time," said
Robert McNabb, chief executive of Korn/Ferry's Futurestep division,
which provides recruitment outsourcing services and conducted the
survey.
"Corporate America (wants) people to make a commitment to live in corporate headquarters, to have face time with the board, to be in every planning and strategy session - not virtually, but in person," McNabb said.
Many employers have not yet embraced flexible work schedules, which are popular with workers seeking a better work-life balance, McNabb added.
Companies are willing to be flexible with their mid-level workers, but more senior managers have fewer options.
"They want to be able to call on you at any given time," he said.
