ATTITUDES OF FEMALE COMPUTER PROFESSIONALS IN SINGAPORE TOWARD TELECOMMUTING

Abstract

Telecommuting refers to the "total or partial substitution of the daily commute" by communication via a computer terminal. It usually, but does not always, implies working at home. However, in this study, it is used to mean strictly work-at-home for organizational employees. In Singapore, one of the measures recommended to increase female labour force participation to 50% by 1995 is to encourage the women to work at home. This study aims to find out the general attitude of female computer professionals in Singapore toward working at home. Seven sets of hypotheses on relationships between various independent variables and the dependent variable, overall attitude toward telecommuting, were tested. The independent variables are broadly categorized into respondent's work, commuting and home situation, job and demographic characteristics, respondent's perception of the attitude of supervisors and co-workers, and advantages and disadvantages of working at home. A predictive model for overall attitude was also derived through multivariate analyses. Data were collected through a survey using a questionnaire. A total of 459 useful returns were received. Majority of the respondents are in favour of working at home. There is also a corresponding desire among most of these respondents to work at home if the opportunity arises. Most respondents are concerned about work-related problems such as communication with others they work with, which may arise from homeworking. Concerns about adverse implications on their career and interaction-related issues take a back seat. Most respondents prefer to work at home I to 3 days a week. Respondents generally desire homework only for particular periods in their lives. They want to stop homeworking when they get tired of staying at home or when children start attending school or have completed primary education. Working flexible hours at the office is still the top choice in work arrangements. Multivariate analyses revealed that the "personal control" factor is the key factor underlying the overall attitude toward telecommuting. This factor comprises chiefly respondents' beliefs about advantages of work-at-home which relate to overall increased personal control over work environment, place and time. Other factors which significantly influence overall attitude include respondents' perceptions of the problems and benefits the employer may have in implementing work-at-home programs, their perceptions of negative outcomes which may arise from the integration of home and work lives, and their perceptions of attitudes of supervisors and co-workers.