Technology in Architectural Practice

This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Small Project Practitioners and Technology in Architectural Practice .
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I would like to pose a few questions to HR and/or owners:
1. Do you allow your employees to telecommute? If so, how many times a week?
2. Does the office "close" on a certain day and all employees work from home?
3. How do you keep track of time?  Honor system or virtual time clock?
4. Would you hire an independent design contractor (CAD) that would telecommute?

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Howard Tews Assoc. AIA
Laurel DE
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This message has been cross posted to the following Discussion Forums: Practice Management Member Conversations and Technology in Architectural Practice .
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Howard,
At our small practice, my partner and I allow telecommuting for a number of reasons:
Some are obvious: treacherous weather, a sick child, feeling under the weather,waiting home for the cable guy, etc.
We are very flexible on that arrangement and a few years back we purposely migrated to laptops for the reason of becoming portable.
So far, we have been very fortunate with all our staff and we have not need to established a set number of days or hours, as long as the work is done no one has issues.
We have also replaced the traditional vacation time, holidays, sick time with flexible PTO that can be used at the discretion of the each indiividual and we don't have set working hours in the office. Each year we established a summer schedule to allow staff longer weekends. Hope this helps

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Luis Tochiki AIA
Neighboring Concepts, PLLC
Charlotte NC
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