The NYT just had an article describing call centers that handle fast food pickup windows. Apparently some outlets contract out the order taking to a remote call center rather than just have a staff member in the restaurant take your order. The NYT's piece said it shaved a few seconds off each order processing and justified the cost. These call centers were still in the U.S., but maybe a thousand miles away from the restaurant.
Some time ago a US Post Office employee told me they would have people sorting mail at home. The letters would go along a conveyor belt and a camera would flash the address to a person at home. The person would then key in the address and the machine would sort the letter. This is certainly technically feasible but I don't know if it came to pass. The P.O. is heavy into opscan, and most mail pieces are pre-barcoded.
Other organizations are having people work at home as a "call center".
I have mixed feelings about people working out of the house. On the one hand, it gives employment opportunities to many who might not otherwise have it, such as new mothers or the handicapped and that is important. But on the other hand, it reminds of me of the early 1900s when families took in work, such as sewing, in order to survive and had to work very long hours. In other words, instead of this being an opportunity for workers, it may turn out to be a burden for workers -- people may be _forced_ to do stuff at home.
Indeed, one of the downsides of cellphones and high speed PC connections is that many workers no longer are "away" from work. They're on call 24/7 because they can be reached and respond via the PC. Before PCs/cell phones such people would be left alone because it was too hard to have them come in off hours (except for a critical emergency).
I was in the bank and the rep had to call their help desk for assistance. The help agent was working out of her house and actually wasn't that helpful because her baby was screaming -- I could hear it sitting across the desk.
[public replies, please] [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: The Chicago Main Post Office (430 West Van Buren) moved much of their operation out of town; much of their 'sorting room' facility is now (or was) in one of the western suburbs instead of right downtown where it had been for years. Apparently the problems of thievery were too much for them to deal with, and I assume they figured they could find more honest employees (although perhaps less diverse, racially) in one of the suburbs. PAT]