Here’s a downside of telecommuting programs that might give companies second thoughts: They may cause non-telecommuters to quit their jobs.

That’s the conclusion of a recent study by the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Researchers interviewed employees at a mid-size company that was starting to offer telecommuting.

The results: As the number of teleworkers increased, employees who stayed in the office were more likely to be dissatisfied with their jobs and leave the company.

Why is that? Experts point to four common mistakes that lead to loss of loyalty among non-telecommuters:

1. Office employees do all the work. When something needs to be done, it’s easiest for a supervisor to ask someone in person. But remind managers with telecommuting staff that work still needs to be spread around equally.
2. Telecommuters get more freedom. Many office workers resent the fact that some co-workers get to work with little supervision while they’re stuck with a “hands-on” manager.
3. Other employees never see teleworking peers. Many savvy companies offer telecommuting arrangements with a catch: Employees working from home still have to come to office regularly. Otherwise, teamwork can start to break down.
4. People don’t talk anymore. One important thing to remember: Don’t let telecommuting ruin co-worker communication. IT must find the best ways for office workers and their home-based counterparts to communicate effortlessly.

Tags: office workers, telecommuting