Final answer:
Telecommuting may worsen work-family conflict and lead to decreased productivity or service quality, as seen in a Social Security Agency case, but it can also enhance job satisfaction and work-life balance with proper support systems in place.
Step-by-step explanation:
One potential problem that may arise if employees are allowed to perform part or all of their work from home is the intensification of work-family conflict. While telecommuting can provide flexibility and reduce commute times, it may also blur the boundaries between work and personal life, making it harder to disconnect from work tasks. A study found that telecommuting made coping with work-family conflict worse, especially when the presence of the worker at home made family demands more evident. Furthermore, an empirical case with the Social Security Agency showed that telework might lead to increased wait times and backlogs, indicating potential decreases in productivity or service quality.
However, telework can offer significant advantages such as increased job satisfaction, improved work-life balance, and reduced spread of illness in events like the COVID-19 pandemic. The effectiveness of telecommuting policies can also depend on managerial styles, with transformational leadership potentially yielding more positive outcomes compared to transactional approaches. Overall, whether telework is beneficial or problematic can depend on the specific circumstances and support systems in place for both the employees and the organization.