With gas prices rising rapidly, the advantages of working from a home office seem to be increasing. Not only is the act of commuting stressful for many, but now it is costing you a lot more to get to your job.

Unfortunately the telecommuting trend seems to be reversing a bit. Some of the biggest corporate proponents, such as AT & T, Hewlett Packard, Intel (from 4% to 1-2%) and sections of the federal government (7.3% drop), are bringing home-based workers back to the office. The explanation is that it tightens operations and promotes teamwork as people work in direct contact with each other.

There is still an increase over the past years, gaining 30% between 2005 and 2007, but these recent call-backs signal some concern. It can be easier to lay off home workers. If you are one of those working for a large company from a home office for part or all of the week, keep in mind some of these ideas that can increase your value:

• Exceed expectations. Make sure you are focused on work during work hours and complete your parts of projects in a timely fashion. Measurable results do count!
• Maintain contact. Even if you work from home, it is still helpful to be seen periodically by management and to be involved face-to-face with colleagues.
• Use your technology wisely. There are many means for online collaboration with team members. Be sure you are prepared for meetings and doing your part. Also, it is easy to multitask when no one can see you. Do not be caught off guard when someone asks you a question you didn’t focus on and then they have to recap the details.

What if you have a home office as a small business owner? I think the public perception of home businesses has greatly improved. In earlier years, it was something that was occasionally hidden because it lent the perception that you hadn’t made it to the “big time” yet. Now it is more common and widely accepted (even envied). The same ideas apply.

• Exceed expectations. Follow up quickly with customers and prospects. Stay focused on work during business hours.
• Maintain contact. Take time to get to know your customers. Face-to-face consultations can help get you the job and keep clients.
• Use technology wisely. Keep up with new software and tools that will help you become more productive, but do not buy anything that you do not have the time to learn to use effectively.