What Is Telecommuting?什么是遠程辦公？

譯/魏新俊

What Is Telecommuting?什么是遠程辦公？

譯/魏新俊

Telecommuting, also known as teleworking, is the act of working from a remote location, usually one’s home. This is made simple with the use of various telecommunications technologies such as a telephone,fax machine and the internet. Many telecommuters are also set up with web conferencing capabilities, allowing them to sit in on1sit in on旁聽（課程），列席（會議）。office meetings via modem and webcam, or at the very least, a conference call.

[2] In most cases, telecommuting equipment is provided by the company,though it’s up to the teleworker to provide an office space free of distraction. For the worker, the benefits are many. Most enjoy the flexibility of working their own hours, at their own pace, as long as all deadlines are met2meet the deadline趕上最后期限，按時交差。. There’s also the ability to work in one’s pajamas or take breaks as needed to attend to3attend to致力于。personal family matters.

遠程辦公（telecommuting或teleworking），是指遠距離，通常是在自己家里工作的方式。隨著電話、傳真機和互聯網等各種電信技術的應用，這種辦公方式變得簡單易行，并具有網絡會議功能，遠程工作者可以通過調制解調器和網絡攝像頭出席辦公會議，或者至少可以參加電話會議。

[2]在大多數情況下，雖然不受干擾的辦公空間由遠程辦公人員自己選定，但遠程辦公設備還是公司提供的。對于工作者來說，益處很多。只要如期完成任務，大多數人可按照自己的節奏，享受靈活的工作時間。還能穿著睡衣工作，或者根據需要安排時間處理個人家庭事務。諸如交通費、午Money is saved on expenses such as commuting, lunch or snacks, clothing,and daycare.餐或快餐費、服裝費和日托費之類的費用便節省下來。

[3] The flip side4the flip side反面，對立面。to this is the lack of camaraderie; telecommuting can be rather lonely. By missing out on5miss out on錯失。the office gossip6office gossip辦公室里的八卦，辦公室的閑聊。and small company meetings, the worker can also miss out on vital pieces of information. Even though most people enjoy working without a micromanaging supervisor looking over their shoulders7look over one’s shoulders小心提防，在旁監督。, they also admit it’s difficult for them to get a proper review when their employers can’t see them on a day-to-day basis8on a day-to-day basis按日計算。. It’s difficult to stand out in an organization or be a team player9a team player合作意識強的人，有團隊精神的人。when you’re not there everyday.

[4] Telecommuting not only enables an employee the convenience of working at home, it also allows the employer to save money on certain overhead expenses such as utilities.In addition, since telecommuters are happier, they’re often more productive;they may spend more time working than their office working counterparts who tend to spend more time on lunch breaks or chit-chatting around the coffee maker. Absenteeism is less common because sick workers still work at home, and they put in longer hours because they never leave their office.

[3]但隨之產生的問題就是同事情誼的缺失；遠程辦公可能會很寂寞。錯過辦公室里的閑聊八卦和公司里的小型聚會，工作者就會錯過一些至關重要的信息。盡管大多數人不喜歡事無巨細的主管在旁邊監督他們工作，但是他們也承認，自己很難從老板那里獲得一個公正的評價，因為不是天天在老板的眼皮底下工作。如果你每天都不在場，那么就很難在組織中脫穎而出或者成為有團隊精神的人。

[4]遠程辦公不僅能使員工享受在家工作的便利，還能夠讓雇主節省水電費之類的費用。此外，由于在家工作的人更快樂，他們往往更富有成效；他們可能會花更多的時間去工作，而與之相比，辦公室工作的同行們則花更多的時間在午餐休息上或者圍著咖啡機閑聊。缺勤現象更少見，因為即便生病，遠程工作者仍然在家里工作，而且他們投入的時間更長，因為他們從不離開自己的辦公室。

[5] If you’re easily distracted or like to procrastinate, telecommuting may not be a good choice for you. If you’re self-motivated and don’t need constant supervision, it can provide an excellent opportunity. If you have a proven record10a proven record有優秀業績，有良好的記錄。with your organization, you’re a good candidate for this type of job. If you have a reputation for slacking off,however, it would probably be unwise to approach your employer about11approach sb about ...就……向某人提出要求。working from home.

[6] There’s usually no harm in approaching your employer about working from home. Research the pros and cons12the pros and cons贊成與反對。and be prepared to sell yourself13sell oneself推薦自己。. Just leave out the part about working in your pajamas.

[5]如果你容易分心或喜歡拖延，遠程辦公可能不是你的理想選擇。如果你上進心強，不需要持續的監督，它就可以為你提供一個絕佳的機會。如果在單位有良好的記錄，那么你就是做這類工作的合適人選。然而，如果你有懈怠的毛病且為人所知，那么向雇主提出在家工作的要求或許是不明智的。

[6]向雇主提出在家工作的要求通常沒有害處。權衡利弊得失，做好毛遂自薦的準備。暫且不要提穿著睡衣工作的事。

（譯者單位：中國藥科大學外語學院）