The Wall Street Journal reports the increasing use of Virtual Call Centers: “You've heard of offshoring. What about home-shoring? That's a term some use to describe companies' tapping U.S. workers to answer tech-support and customer-service calls -- from home.”

"These at-home workers handle hotel and airline reservations, roadside assistance, tech support and sales calls। Retirees and near-retirees watching retirement accounts shrink may find such work-at-home opportunities a way to earn extra cash."

"Despite the economic slowdown, some of these firms plan to continue hiring। For instance, Hilton expects to hire more at-home agents in January, says Russ Olivier, a senior vice president at the company। Alpine Access will hire 250 more agents this year, and 1,200 in the first quarter of 2009, says Chris Carrington, CEO of the Denver-based firm."

"He says the growth is driven largely by companies moving call-center operations back to the U।S। from overseas -- in part because wages and other costs are rising in other countries, but also because communication difficulties can result in customer backlash."

"The jobs often require some experience. Mr. Carrington says Alpine hired just 2% of applicants this year. And while flexibility is a perk -- in general, agents set their schedules about a week in advance -- many of the jobs are part time, with pay ranging from about $8 to $14 an hour. Many of the companies don't offer benefits."

Four real work-at-home jobs

MSN Money reports: "After the birth of her daughter, Carrie Opara knew she didn't want to return to her old job as a mental-health counselor. But finding legitimate work she could do at home was no small feat."

"She tried a multilevel marketing plan and wound up in debt. She looked on the Internet and found plenty of scams. Finally, she heard about LiveOps, a Palo Alto, Calif., call center that hired people to work out of their own homes."

"Within two years, she was earning about $2,000 a month working 30 to 35 hours a week from her home in Columbia, Md. -- about what she'd made previously as a counselor. Her shifts can be as short as 30 minutes, although she typically works five-hour blocks while her 6-year-old is in school, plus some nights and weekends when her husband, a certified public accountant, can take over child care."

News station provides advice on work-at-home jobs

WCPO.com reports: "With the economy as bad as its been in 25 years, and new layoffs every day, more and more of us would love to find a work-at-home job that really works."

"Sharon looks like any other customer service rep..."

"'May I get your name, address, and date of birth please?'"

"...with one big exception. She handles claims for a major insurer in a spare bedroom in her house, earning almost $10 an hour working hours of her choosing.Sharon tells me "I love working from home. "

"It gives you extra time, I can sleep in, I dont have to fight traffic."Sharon worked in a busy call center until she got the chance to work part time in her own home, courtesy the marketing company Convergys."

NEW Customer Service Companies Inc. is expanding its Bowling Green workforce

The Lane Report details N.E.W.'s expansion: "NEW Customer Service Companies Inc. is expanding its Bowling Green workforce and plans to double its staff by next May, putting the company well ahead of its previously announced hiring schedule."

"In May of this year, the Virginia-based company – which provides extended service plans and buyer protection programs for consumer products – announced plans to establish its work-at-home program in the Bowling Green area. At that time, NEW said it would hire around 120 people over the course of the first year and would continue to hire at that pace, creating a total of around 350 new jobs within three years."

"Now, the company expects to come close to 350 employees within only one year. NEW currently has a staff of 160 in the Bowling Green area and plans to add 160 jobs by May 2009, bringing the total number of jobs to 320. "