Jobs are still on the minds of families all over America.  The national unemployment rate is at about 9.7 percent and even higher in some states like California (12.6 percent).

Stock market shudders have business people in a defensive position. They are shelving expansion plans to meet the needs of a growing market.  The thought of repeating painful layoffs has them paralyzed.

But employers are beginning to realize that broadband access presents a middle way to (a) get the work down without taking on long-term employee-related obligations, and (b) for employees to generate income without having to wait for a full-time job to be offered.

With broadband availability growing daily, more people can offer their services without coming into the office.  All employers really need is a broadband connection.

We’ve talked before about working from home either on a flex-time schedule, or when a child is ill, but these are examples of full-time employees changing their workspace from cubicle to couch.

Telecommuting can also mean part-time or contract employees who never work in their centrally-located office because they don’t have one.  And it falls under the umbrella of “telework.”

A bookkeeper, and accountant, a designer, or a writer can work from their home and deal with an employer miles or time zones away.  Not only that, but (within the bounds of good business ethics) part-time and contract employees can offer services to other employers.  For example, writing technical manuals for your employer and contracting to write a speech for the CEO of another company.

Using broadband access to the internet as a way for employers and employees to get together in a new relationship may well be considered the wave of the future but smart business owners and employees are connecting right now.

Chip Kohrman is the founder of Telesaur.com

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