PROS AND CONS OF THE MOBILE WORKFORCE Introduction Working from home. Telecommuting. Mobile workforce. Virtual worker. Whatever the title, the theme and situation is the same -- all of the above consists of workers who are not onsite to do their daily work for at least part of the work week. Once considered a novelty done by only fringe types of firms, telecommuting and mobile workforces are becoming more and more common in the business world. Much of the reason has to do with economics -- many companies are finding that a telecommuting employee takes up less space, meaning less real estate is needed for that person's office. Then there is the perceived productivity increase -- companies claim that workers-at-home (or on the road) tend to be more productive than those who are nine-to-fivers. Finally, in the international community in which many companies are operating, working at home is almost a must, given huge time zones and time differences across the globe. It's easier to reach a colleague in Europe first thing in the morning when a worker is burning the midnight oil at home, rather than hanging around a desk at work. But is telecommuting really an effective tool in a business situation? Is a mobile workforce really more productive? Do virtual workers actually get more done at home, or from a hotel or airport on the road than they might if stuck at their desks? As with anything, there are pros and cons. A mobile workforce certainly does have its benefits -- that's why more and more companies are allowing their workers the benefit of working o