Final answer:
Companies should indeed have written policies for telecommuting employees that clearly specify communication expectations to ensure clarity and understanding of work practices and to manage work-family dynamics effectively.
D) Partially true
Step-by-step explanation:
The question whether companies should have written policies for telecommuting employees that specify communications expectations is best answered as true. Written policies help ensure clear communication between the employer and the telecommuting employees, setting clear expectations regarding work hours, availability, communication tools, and attendance in virtual meetings. Telecommuting allows employees to work at home and set their own hours which can help balance work and family life. However, it can also present challenges, such as the potential for increased work-family conflict when the boundaries between work and home life become blurred.
It is advisable for companies to include policies on camera use during online meetings, as employees are often uncertain whether to have their cameras turned on, despite expected employer practices. Moreover, amid technological advances and changes in work setups, the efficiency and effectiveness of telecommuting arrangements continue to be debated, with considerations of firm size, market reach, and employee and organizational performance.
Therefore, having a set of written guidelines could help manage these scenarios effectively, benefiting both the organization and its employees by mitigating potential issues before they arise and ensuring a shared understanding of telework expectations.