9 February 2010
NPR
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123406526&ps=cprs
Highlighting virtual companies as a practical way of the future
Some companies, like Fuentek, have built their whole business model around workers who stay at home.
“When I started this in 2001, right from the start, the idea was that it was all going to be home-based,” she says. “To create a brick-and-mortar environment really wouldn’t have provided any better service for our clients, and it really wasn’t what we were looking for.”
Schoppe says the decision was a practical one at first. When she founded the consulting firm with just two other people, they saw no need for formal office space. But as Fuentek grew — and began hiring engineers, technical writers and others — she found they were more productive when they worked from home and set their own schedules.
“I think you get better loyalty. I think people are more willing to get the job done,” she says. “And part of that is that flexibility of allowing people to have their personal life or their family life be primary.”
