Remote Work Dictionary

It seems simple enough. Remote work appears to signify work that’s done outside of a traditional office. Turns out, not so simple. There are so many – too many – terms to describe people that aren’t cubicle dwellers.

Remote workers, teleworkers, telecommuters, digital nomads, eWorkers, whatever term you want to describe these workers - their numbers are slowly but most definitely increasing.

Here at ConnectsUs HR, we've chosen to title our Teleworking Policy & Agreement template as is, because although some believe 'teleworking' to be an old-fashioned name for remote work, it's original and all emcompassing of other forms of remote work, such as telecommuting.  

ConnectsUs HR's Teleworking Policy & Agreement template
is completely customizable so you can establish exactly how your company defines remote work. 
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THIS TEMPLATE FOR FREE

All the terms used for virtual work are often interchangeable and overlapping but there are some important distinctions between them. Let's define a few buzzwords to avoid confusion and maintain accuracy! 

Co-working Space

A work environment that is shared by workers - often freelancers, digital nomads, and remote workers - who aren’t employed by the same company. The space often provides office supplies like wifi, printers, and hopefully snacks!

Digital Nomad

An employee that independently travels, often internationally, while working remotely.

eWorker

An antiquated term for working on an online office network. (see also: telecommuter, teleworker)

Remote Worker

A person who does remote work, or fulfills a role in a company without being present in the employer’s physical, centralized workplace. Remote work implies that the worker lives outside the geographical area of the company’s main office, so whether or not they work from home, coffee shops or coworking spaces, they are remote from the main headquarters.
 

A lot of people use the words teleworking and telecommuting interchangeably. However, telecommuting is actually a type of teleworking.  And a telecommuter is always a teleworker, but teleworkers are not necessarily telecommuters.  
So what's the difference?

Teleworker

The prefix 'tele' means "distance". Teleworking refers to working from a distance from your office. For example, working from a coffee shop, a hotel lobby, a coworking space or you work on various projects that are on-site with clients so you don't report to your employer's main office. 

Telecommuter

Telecommuting refers specifically to the elimination of your daily commute. You're a telecommuter if you don't regularly need to leave your house to conduct your work. For example, working out of your home office or any office on your property where you don't have to commute!

Virtual Worker

An individual who works from home offices using modern technology to get things done. A virtual worker is technically the same as a telecommuter.