s that employees who are working from home will be less productive than those working at the office where they can be "supervised." The opposite is true, actually. Home workers, or telecommuters -- or virtual assistants -In the past 5 years, our world has changed dramatically. Our labor pool is shrinking, both as baby boomers retire and as mothers rethink their home/career balance in favor of their homes. Fear of the bird flu is rising. And with gas prices approaching (or passing, in some areas) $3 per gallon, more and more workers are looking for ways to remain home in order to avoid commutes and be with their families.

So, from a business perspective, why does it make sense to either outsource to a virtual assistant or allow employees to remain home while they work?

Productivity. Employee retention. A feeling of empowerment. These are all good things for employers.

A recent commercial for California cheese featured the slogan, "Happy cows make better cheese." Along the same lines, happy employees are more productive in the workforce. A common misperception among managers is that employees who are working from home will be less productive than those working at the office where they can be "supervised." The opposite is true, actually. Home workers, or telecommuters -- or virtual assistants --

And with gas prices approaching (or passing, in some areas) $3 per gallon, more and more workers are looking for ways to remain home in order to avoid commutes and be with their families.

So, from a business perspective, why does it make sense to either outsource to a virtual assistant or allow employees to remain home while they work?

Productivity. Employee retention. A feeling of empowerment. These are all good things for employers.

A recent commercial for California cheese featured the slogan, "Happy cows make better cheese." Along the same lines, happy employees are more productive in the workforce. A common misperception among managers is that employees who are working from home will be less productive than those working at the office where they can be "supervised." The opposite is true, actually. Home workers, or telecommuters -- or virtual assistants -

e, why does it make sense to either outsource to a virtual assistant or allow employees to remain home while they work?

Productivity. Employee retention. A feeling of empowerment. These are all good things for employers.

A recent commercial for California cheese featured the slogan, "Happy cows make better cheese." Along the same lines, happy employees are more productive in the workforce. A common misperception among managers is that employees who are working from home will be less productive than those working at the office where they can be "supervised." The opposite is true, actually. Home workers, or telecommuters -- or virtual assistants -

yers.

A recent commercial for California cheese featured the slogan, "Happy cows make better cheese." Along the same lines, happy employees are more productive in the workforce. A common misperception among managers is that employees who are working from home will be less productive than those working at the office where they can be "supervised." The opposite is true, actually. Home workers, or telecommuters -- or virtual assistants -

s that employees who are working from home will be less productive than those working at the office where they can be "supervised." The opposite is true, actually. Home workers, or telecommuters -- or virtual assistants -- who are allowed to set their own schedules are far more productive than their office-based counterparts.

Our economy here in the US is more serviced based than ever before. It is worth it to any company's bottom line to see that administrative tasks are outsourced, and that employees are able to work from a home office if they so desire.