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Should telecommuting be tax incentivized?

Should telecommuting be tax incentivized?

  • Yes

    Votes: 5 45.5%

  • No

    Votes: 6 54.5%
  • Total voters
    11
Smeagol

Smeagol

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Should telecommuting; working and attending school from home with the use of technology (computer networking, etc.) be tax incentivized? Kids won't be on the streets in darkness before the sun rises to get to school. Energy needed to power buildings would be reduced. Fewer cars would be on the roads and thus reduced gasoline consumption and other transportation costs.

I fully understand this can only work under certain conditions and with certain types of jobs. Even where it can work, it might only work in conjunction with traditional commuting such as going into the office 3 days a week and working from home 2 days a week. I'm not talking about an all or nothing proposition.
 
Smeagol said:
Should telecommuting; working and attending school from home with the use of technology (computer networking, etc.) be tax incentivized? Kids won't be on the streets in darkness before the sun rises to get to school. Energy needed to power buildings would be reduced. Fewer cars would be on the roads and thus reduced gasoline consumption and other transportation costs.

I fully understand this can only work under certain conditions and with certain types of jobs. Even where it can work, it might only work in conjunction with traditional commuting such as going into the office 3 days a week and working from home 2 days a week. I'm not talking about an all or nothing proposition.
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It already is incentivized by not paying transportation taxes/expenses or wasting that windshield time commuting. I get jobs only through referrals and by local folks seeing me working (I do not advertise) which tends to let me avoid long commutes but my job (handyman) can only be performed on site.
 
Smeagol said:
Should telecommuting; working and attending school from home with the use of technology (computer networking, etc.) be tax incentivized? Kids won't be on the streets in darkness before the sun rises to get to school. Energy needed to power buildings would be reduced. Fewer cars would be on the roads and thus reduced gasoline consumption and other transportation costs.

I fully understand this can only work under certain conditions and with certain types of jobs. Even where it can work, it might only work in conjunction with traditional commuting such as going into the office 3 days a week and working from home 2 days a week. I'm not talking about an all or nothing proposition.
Click to expand...

Are you talking about tax incentives for businesses or individuals?
 
Smeagol said:
Should telecommuting; working and attending school from home with the use of technology (computer networking, etc.) be tax incentivized? Kids won't be on the streets in darkness before the sun rises to get to school. Energy needed to power buildings would be reduced. Fewer cars would be on the roads and thus reduced gasoline consumption and other transportation costs.

I fully understand this can only work under certain conditions and with certain types of jobs. Even where it can work, it might only work in conjunction with traditional commuting such as going into the office 3 days a week and working from home 2 days a week. I'm not talking about an all or nothing proposition.
Click to expand...

The school part will never happen for a few reasons. 1: Big gov likes to tell our kids how to think. 2: They will get less money in taxes. After all, who'll vote for new school levies if people start homeschooling just to get that tax incentive? Of course there will be those that can't do this and so will vote for it, but for those that can? That's less people voting positively for levies. 3: Its much harder for the government to tell YOU how to raise your kids if they have less chances to influence you via schools administrators/teachers/counselors etc etc.
 
Smeagol said:
Should telecommuting; working and attending school from home with the use of technology (computer networking, etc.) be tax incentivized? Kids won't be on the streets in darkness before the sun rises to get to school. Energy needed to power buildings would be reduced. Fewer cars would be on the roads and thus reduced gasoline consumption and other transportation costs.

I fully understand this can only work under certain conditions and with certain types of jobs. Even where it can work, it might only work in conjunction with traditional commuting such as going into the office 3 days a week and working from home 2 days a week. I'm not talking about an all or nothing proposition.
Click to expand...

Isn't it enough incentive just not to have to get up two hours before time to start work, get dressed, fix breakfast, wear uncomfortable clothes, fight traffic, find a parking spot, and rush up to the office?

Wouldn't it be an incentive enough just to be able to get out of bed fifteen minutes before starting work, sit down in front of the computer still wearing pajamas and with a cup of coffee at hand?

Just think of the stress that could be avoided!
 
Dittohead not! said:
Isn't it enough incentive just not to have to get up two hours before time to start work, get dressed, fix breakfast, wear uncomfortable clothes, fight traffic, find a parking spot, and rush up to the office?

Wouldn't it be an incentive enough just to be able to get out of bed fifteen minutes before starting work, sit down in front of the computer still wearing pajamas and with a cup of coffee at hand?

Just think of the stress that could be avoided!
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I take the question as relating to business, not individuals.
 
radcen said:
I take the question as relating to business, not individuals.
Click to expand...

Oh.

Well, there really is no incentive for businesses, just employees. Maybe a tax break would help. Call it a traffic relief tax break or something.
 
Dittohead not! said:
Isn't it enough incentive just not to have to get up two hours before time to start work, get dressed, fix breakfast, wear uncomfortable clothes, fight traffic, find a parking spot, and rush up to the office?

Wouldn't it be an incentive enough just to be able to get out of bed fifteen minutes before starting work, sit down in front of the computer still wearing pajamas and with a cup of coffee at hand?

Just think of the stress that could be avoided!
Click to expand...

I can do about 1/3 of my work from home. I would still need to come in everyday but not as early. Often the people at the top are not fully aware of what can be done just as well off site and/or are very traditional in their thinking so they are completely fine with you working from home as long as you don't consider the time you work from home as part of your regularly scheduled work day, only extra work you choose to do on your own time.
 
Dittohead not! said:
Oh.

Well, there really is no incentive for businesses, just employees. Maybe a tax break would help. Call it a traffic relief tax break or something.
Click to expand...

Companies could save a lot on office space but many are so old school in their thinking. Unless they can watch you work, in their minds you must not be working. New productivity evaluations would need to be based more upon the quality and rate at which products are completely and less upon how busy an employee looks.
 
Smeagol said:
Companies could save a lot on office space but many are so old school in their thinking. Unless they can watch you work, in their minds you must not be working. New productivity evaluations would need to be based more upon the quality and rate at which products are completely and less upon how busy an employee looks.
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I believe this is exactly the fear. And to be fair, there are some people who would lack the discipline to do so.

I do think that independent contracting is the wave of the future, though.
 
radcen said:
I believe this is exactly the fear. And to be fair, there are some people who would lack the discipline to do so.

I do think that independent contracting is the wave of the future, though.
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Working from home, and taking online classes takes an enormous amount of discipline.

It's not for everybody. My grades suffered when I went to school online, because there was always something going on, always something else to do other than do my homework. Now that I am in a traditional classroom, my grades are much better.
 
Smeagol said:
Should telecommuting; working and attending school from home with the use of technology (computer networking, etc.) be tax incentivized? Kids won't be on the streets in darkness before the sun rises to get to school. Energy needed to power buildings would be reduced. Fewer cars would be on the roads and thus reduced gasoline consumption and other transportation costs.

I fully understand this can only work under certain conditions and with certain types of jobs. Even where it can work, it might only work in conjunction with traditional commuting such as going into the office 3 days a week and working from home 2 days a week. I'm not talking about an all or nothing proposition.
Click to expand...

As a telecommuter who has been to the office ONCE this year...
I'm for tax incentives on principle, however there really is no need for such. I spent money to get a second monitor, as my office has two. I spend good money to up my internet, my keyboard and my mouse. I did all this with no financial incentive or assistance. I save 2+ hours in the car daily, 27.5 each way. That's 55 a day times 20 trips in a 4 week month. Is 1,100 miles of driving, 40 hours of my life and 60-80 dollars in gas saved monthly. Couple that with I eat better, healthier and cheaper at home...

Score.
 
Smeagol said:
All of the above.
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I think there are already enough incentives for individuals that adding tax incentives to the pile isn't necessary. Less time commuting, save money on childcare, save money on gas, flexibility on when and where you do your work, there are a ton of benefits.

There are benefits to employers too, but they come with some risks, so maybe some kind of tax incentive could encourage businesses to adopt telecommuting practices sooner. I think it will happen on its own anyway though.
 
Encouraged in any way possible.

And also, when a participant is not fulfilling their job properly, the option rescinded or person fired.

Such people ruin it for the rest of us.

I've been so fortunate the past 2 yrs to be able to work remote almost totally and it's been fantastic. Yet we constantly have to make sure we do more than 100% and are scrupulous in our work and time management....because many companies and teams within companies...are looking for excuses not to support telecommuting. The distrust of centuries of "Puritan work ethic" and lazy/incompetant worker abuse is a big hurdle to overcome.
 
Last edited:
ttwtt78640 said:
It already is incentivized by not paying transportation taxes/expenses or wasting that windshield time commuting. I get jobs only through referrals and by local folks seeing me working (I do not advertise) which tends to let me avoid long commutes but my job (handyman) can only be performed on site.
Click to expand...

How are those things incentives for companies? Businesses and organizations?
 
Kal'Stang said:
The school part will never happen for a few reasons. 1: Big gov likes to tell our kids how to think. 2: They will get less money in taxes. After all, who'll vote for new school levies if people start homeschooling just to get that tax incentive? Of course there will be those that can't do this and so will vote for it, but for those that can? That's less people voting positively for levies. 3: Its much harder for the government to tell YOU how to raise your kids if they have less chances to influence you via schools administrators/teachers/counselors etc etc.
Click to expand...

I would think it could happen in schools, at least for older kids, sooner than mainstreaming for many jobs...a teacher can see who is online, can see their faces, speak to them directly, get their responses, etc.
 
Dittohead not! said:
Isn't it enough incentive just not to have to get up two hours before time to start work, get dressed, fix breakfast, wear uncomfortable clothes, fight traffic, find a parking spot, and rush up to the office?

Wouldn't it be an incentive enough just to be able to get out of bed fifteen minutes before starting work, sit down in front of the computer still wearing pajamas and with a cup of coffee at hand?

Just think of the stress that could be avoided!
Click to expand...

How are those 'incentives' for the employers?
 
Dittohead not! said:
Oh.

Well, there really is no incentive for businesses, just employees. Maybe a tax break would help. Call it a traffic relief tax break or something.
Click to expand...

That is the question in the OP :doh
 
Smeagol said:
I can do about 1/3 of my work from home. I would still need to come in everyday but not as early. Often the people at the top are not fully aware of what can be done just as well off site and/or are very traditional in their thinking so they are completely fine with you working from home as long as you don't consider the time you work from home as part of your regularly scheduled work day, only extra work you choose to do on your own time.
Click to expand...

Everyday? Still a waste of gas and commuting time. Bummer. But I guess you could miss actual rush hrs.

Flexible scheduling (start/end times) has created a huge rush hour....Lots of traffic for several hours morning and evening. Flex scheduling is good but again...now commute times are less concentrated around 9 and 5 and last for hrs.
 
It already is. I get a tax break for having a home office. They allow me to deduct a certain amount of my house payment as well as utilities. You are required to use a certain amount of square footage for your office in order for you to write it off.
 
Smeagol said:
Should telecommuting; working and attending school from home with the use of technology (computer networking, etc.) be tax incentivized? Kids won't be on the streets in darkness before the sun rises to get to school. Energy needed to power buildings would be reduced. Fewer cars would be on the roads and thus reduced gasoline consumption and other transportation costs.

I fully understand this can only work under certain conditions and with certain types of jobs. Even where it can work, it might only work in conjunction with traditional commuting such as going into the office 3 days a week and working from home 2 days a week. I'm not talking about an all or nothing proposition.
Click to expand...

I don't think we should be incentivizing an even more sedentary lifestyle than we already have.
 
Sherman123 said:
I don't think we should be incentivizing an even more sedentary lifestyle than we already have.
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Is sitting in your car, on a bus, on a train, in an office elsewhere any more active than sitting in an office in your home?
 
Dittohead not! said:
Isn't it enough incentive just not to have to get up two hours before time to start work, get dressed, fix breakfast, wear uncomfortable clothes, fight traffic, find a parking spot, and rush up to the office?


Wouldn't it be an incentive enough just to be able to get out of bed fifteen minutes before starting work, sit down in front of the computer still wearing pajamas and with a cup of coffee at hand?


Just think of the stress that could be avoided!
Click to expand...

That's my life, actually. It's pretty awesome
 
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