Telecommuting may hurt career advancement-survey

NEW YORK, Jan 17 (Reuters) Employees who frequently work from home may be hurting their chances to advance their careers, a survey by Korn/Ferry International reported.

So-called 'telecommuters' are less likely to advance than peers who work in traditional office settings, according to 61 percent of the 1,300 global executives surveyed. That's even though some three-quarters of executives consider telecommuters to be as productive as their desk-bound colleagues, the survey found.

Workers climbing the corporate ladder need 'face time,' said Robert McNabb, chief executive of Korn/Ferry's Futurestep division, which provides recruitment outsourcing services and conducted the survey.

''Corporate America (wants) people to make a commitment to live in corporate headquarters, to have face time with the board, to be in every planning and strategy session -- not virtually, but in person,'' McNabb said.

Many employers have not yet embraced flexible work schedules, which are popular with workers seeking a better work-life balance, McNabb added. Companies are willing to be flexible with their mid-level workers, but more senior managers have fewer options.

''They want to be able to call on you at any given time,'' he said.

Reuters BDP GC0851