Gas You Like It How to ease workers' commutes as gas prices skyrocket

As gasoline prices rise, so does the appeal of telecommuting. But entrepreneurs should think twice before offering employees a tele-commuting option.

Telework gets popular whenever getting to work becomes a challenge, says Gil Gordon, a telecommuting consultant in Monmouth Junction, New Jersey. "It can be anywhere from something as dramatic as the World Trade Center [tragedy] to highway construction," Gordon says.

If you already employ workplace policies like flextime, telework may fit in well. Telecommuting often works for companies with high-value key workers, says Gordon. It may be less successful for entrepreneurs whose businesses require face-to-face meetings, or who aren't comfortable having employees out of sight.