The web-based survey, which sought to explore , found that organizations that give their employees the flexibility to work from home profit from productivity improvements, lower operational costs, and from being able to find and retain talented workers.

Of the 212 survey respondents, the majority of whom work in IT and at all levels, 78 percent said that their companies allow at least some telecommuting. More than two-thirds of respondents (67 percent) ranked increased productivity as telecommuting's chief benefit. They say mainly stem from the ability to work during the time employees would otherwise be commuting to the office.

Nearly 60 percent of respondents checked off cost savings as another significant benefit of telecommuting. Their answers to how much money their companies have saved by allowing telecommuting varied widely, resulting in an average savings of US$695,752. The median and mode amounts saved were $10,000. (Cost savings come from not having to pay auto expenses, such as mileage reimbursements, or for office-related materials.) notes that a significant number of respondents didn't know how much their organizations have saved by letting employees work from home.

Other that respondents cited include:

-- The ability to hire the most qualified staff, regardless of where they live (noted by 39 percent of respondents)