16 IT cos offering work-from-home option

American telecommunications major is looking for mobile workforce to carve out its market in India. The company wants employees who are comfortable working away from office and can use multiple devices to access enterprise applications and corporate information.

And, AT&T is no exception to offer such option to its employees. Work-from-home option or telecommuting may not have become a norm in India yet, however, companies are increasingly opening to the idea. Infact, 2012 could be an inflection point for work-from-home. Mobile, video and desktop virtualisation technologies are combining to enable this.

Companies have recognised the benefits, and are beginning to create or strengthen their work-from-home policies. Here are some leading IT companies who give their employees this option.

IBM
Allows several categories of employees to work from home. For many others, it's flexible, with managers taking the call. "Work /life balance touches morale, productivity and retention.

Current lifestyles have resulted in higher stress levels and we take a positive view towards creating a conducive environment to help people integrate work and life," says Chandrasekhar Sripada, head HR, IBM India.

DELL
A 3-month Connected Workplace pilot project was launched in India in November 2011. Under this, a select team connects to the Dell network only through remote connection.

"With the arrival of new mobility technologies, company office need not be the only workplace. Flexibility on this front is a real option today," says Vijay Bharadwaj, VPHR , Dell India.

Microsoft
Microsoft allows flexible scheduling, allows employees to work part-time or full time from home, provided the manager permits.

"Being able to choose where they will work from and how many hours, in addition to a better work-life balance for the employee, creates higher motivation levels, and therefore higher productivity," says Joji Gill, director - HR, Microsoft India.

HCL Technologies
HCL Technologies has initiated a work-from-home policy. "The idea is to improve employee morale and motivation.

But employees need to take the reporting manager's approval," says Srimathi Shivashankar, associate VP - diversity & sustainability, HCL Technologies.

Accenture
Accenture has a formal flexible working arrangement policy that enables employees to take up flex time and work from home. Has employees who have been working from home for years.

Yahoo
"All we ask for is that while working from home an employee must be available on calls, participate in meetings and should be able to meet deadlines.

We encourage our employees to have outcome-based working model and thus we don't track number of work hours put in at office," says Aparna Ballakur, VP-HR , Yahoo! India.

Google
Google offers employees flexible work timings and the authority to define their own schedules/type of work.

SAP
SAP allows its employees to work from home one day a week. With permission from manager, this can be extended to more days.

Cisco
Requires manager's permission. Many utilise the facility.

Infosys
Working for 3.5 hours in a day is counted as being present on the day. The rest of the hours can be done out of home with manager's permission.

Wipro
Requires manager's permission.

Intel
Very flexible options, requires manager's permission. Many use the option.

HP
Very flexible options, requires manager's permission.

NetApp
Very flexible options, requires manager's permission.

Texas Instruments
Very flexible options, requires manager's permission.