More than 5 percent of tech firm Ariba Inc.'s 1,550 employees telecommute, allowing them to be closer to the Sunnyvale, Calif.-based firm's global clientele, said Vice President of Human Resources Matthew Zack.

"It's much more economical for us to have folks located in the region [where customers are,]" Mr. Zack said, adding that the firm, which has offices Downtown, pays for Internet connectivity and mobile phones .

Other members of Ariba's work force have the option to telecommute on occasional Fridays.

But telecommuting isn't just for high-tech firms such as Ariba.

At PNC Financial Services Group, telecommuting is one of five options workers have under a flexible workplace policy aimed at allowing employees to frame their work around their lives.

Mellon Financial Corp. launched formal flex arrangements in 2001 that include telecommuting.

And at GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare in Moon, telecommuting is routine for many people who work in the company's marketing, communications and legal departments, said spokeswoman Lori Lukus . Ms. Lukus said some employees telecommute on an as-needed basis, while others do so on a particular day of the week -- she, for example, works from home on Fridays.

"Many of us have laptop computers and cell phones that make that absolutely possible," Ms. Lukus said. "We look at it along with all the other options that we provide to employees to provide a work/life balance."