＜prologue＞
I started a blog called “The Baby Boomer Generation’s Miscellaneous Blog”（Dankai-sedai no garakutatyou:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳） in July 2018, about a year before I fully retired. More than six years have passed since then, and the number of articles has increased considerably.
So, in order to make them accessible to people who don’t understand Japanese, I decided to translate my past articles into English and publish them.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I would like to make this my life’s work.
It should be noted that haiku and waka （Japanese short fixed form poems） are quite difficult to translate into English, so some parts are written in Japanese.
If you are interested in haiku or waka and would like to know more, please read introductory or specialized books on haiku or waka written in English.
I also write many articles about the Japanese language. I would be happy if these inspire more people to want to learn Japanese.
my blog’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多（がらくた）帳 | 団塊世代が雑学や面白い話を発信しています
my X’s URL:団塊世代の我楽多帳（@historia49）さん / X
Recently, we often hear the term “telework” as part of the reform of work styles. The term “telecommuting” has been around for some time, but this section provides an easy-to-understand explanation of the difference between the two.
＜Addition on 2/25/2020＞
Telework” has suddenly become the focus of attention as a countermeasure to prevent the spread of the recent ‘novel coronavirus pneumonia’ (COVID-19).
1. What is telework?
In this “super-aging society,” the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW) and other government agencies are actively promoting “flexible work styles that do not depend on place or time” for the purpose of “securing the labor force. This is what is called “telework. It does not mean “telephone work” as in “call centers.”
The English word “tele” (tele) originally meant “far away” and was coined by combining it with the word “work.” It represents “a flexible way of working that is not restricted by location or time using information and communications technology (ICT)” and is a symbol of the ICT society.
In anticipation of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, approximately 2,000 companies and government agencies plan to conduct a one-and-a-half month “telework” trial to avoid traffic congestion during the Olympics.
The Japan Telework Association is a national organization related to telework. As of June 6, 2019, the association has 297 member companies and organizations (91 regular members and 206 supporting members).
This flexible work style called “telework” is effective for improving productivity, securing talented human resources, and avoiding the concentration of daytime population in cities, so we should continue to promote its establishment and spread.
2. Types of telework
(1) Telecommuting
This is a method of performing work at home while keeping in touch with the company via computer or other means, due to difficulties in working for reasons such as childcare or nursing care. This type of work is also perfect for those whose home is remote from the company, or for those who find commuting by crowded trains mentally and physically painful.
(2) Mobile work type
This is a method of using a computer or other device to perform work at a customer’s site or while traveling. This is a way of working that has been used by salespeople in the past, but has been extended to general employees as well.
(3) Satellite office work
This is a method of conducting business by using computers and other equipment in an office space (rental office, coworking space, or other facility) other than your place of work. Come to think of it, “rental offices” and “coworking spaces” have recently become commonplace in Osaka.
３．Difference between telework and telecommuting
Since “telework” means working away from the office, one can say that working at home, in a coffee shop, in a park, or even renting a private office is “telework. However, “telecommuting” means working at home, so it is “telework done at home.
4. Advantages and disadvantages of telework
(1) Advantages
①Advantages for companies
Reduction of paper costs, commuting allowances, etc.
Reduction in retirement due to childcare, nursing care, etc., and securing of excellent human resources.
Increased productivity due to work-life balance
②Advantages for Workers
Reduced commuting time, making it easier to balance work and home life.
People who want to work but are unable to due to childbirth, childcare, nursing care, physical disabilities, etc. can work.
People do not have to choose where they live, such as in rural areas.
(2) Disadvantages
①Disadvantages for companies
It is difficult to know what kind of terminals and networks are being used, making security management difficult.
Communication is reduced.
Decreased trust among employees.
②Disadvantages for workers
Working at home, the boundary between work and private life becomes blurred, which can lead to a decrease in motivation to work.
People who work hard are more likely to be overworked than those who work at the office.
This is similar to how “leaving work on time” with a “ban on side jobs” can lead to overwork due to overworking or a reduced motivation to work at one’s main job due to working hard at a side job until late at night.
The above two disadvantages are inextricably linked, but they make it difficult to switch on and off.
