Consultants, freelancers and sales representatives have worked from home for decades. But now professionals employed by companies, government agencies, or nonprofit organizations are finding they can get more done and spend more time with their families when they work part or full time from home.

The advent of cheap computers, modems and fax machines opened the door. Cable modems and other high-speed connections have prompted the switch to an increasingly broad band of the work force. Companies can route in-coming calls from customers into computers and send them out to workers in call centers or at home.

U.S. Census Bureau studies show 3 to 7 percent of workers have home offices, but that count is probably low. Employers expect the home-work arrangements to increase.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina needed more workers but wanted to avoid the cost to house them. Cable-routed phone systems enabled them to add 3,000 jobs nationwide since 2001, a 20 percent increase. People who work part of their week from home tend to be professionals and managers.

Telecommuting takes a lot of trust between the employer and the employee, one worker explained. It also has its drawbacks. Having workers away from the office can erode corporate unity. Emailing is not the same as face-to-face, an expert pointed out. Brainstorming and reading emotional signals don't happen over the phone, and companies often require home workers to attend regular meetings in the office. Managers in the middle are often stuck with the hassles but see none of the savings in their departmental budgets.

For workers, working from home requires discipline. Some miss the interaction with peers at work.

For now, keeping workers with specialized skills is the most immediate reward of allowing at-home workers.