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N.C. Air Awareness Program >> Triangle Commute Options

Triangle Commute Solution: Telecommute
For many, Telecommuting is the ultimate solution! In fact, it is the most popular commute and has the most impact on reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. Many employers and employees have discovered the many benefits of telecommute programs. Employee benefits Increased job satisfaction Increased productivity as a result of continuous, uninterrupted work time Improved air quality Flexibility to manage work and family life schedule Reduced absenteeism Financial savings Reduced traffic congestion Reduced car maintenance Employer benefits Increased employee productivity Improved employee morale Expanded hiring opportunities Improved air quality Improved recruitment and retention of employees Reduced absenteeism Increased compliance with commute trip reduction policies Emergency readiness Expanded parking space Reduced need for office space Financial savings Reduced traffic congestion Telecommute refers to work that is done from a location other than the usual place of business-for example, home, a satellite office, or a telework center. The broadest definition of the word used today is when an employee uses telecommunications and computer technology to give them the freedom to work any time from any location. This could mean checking emails from a client's office, working late night when the kids are in bed, or writing a report from a coffee shop. Today, there is a new emphasis on family friendly workplaces, health, and general well being. These values have motivated workers to seek out work arrangements such as telecommuting. Telecommuting is not a one-size fits all proposition; nor is it a concrete set of standard operating procedures. There are many types of telecommute arrangements and programs and ways to implement them. Moreover, telecommute is a growth concept; we are constantly refining it as we use it and as we learn more about how it works. Getting Started Many organizations have structured telecommuting programs with procedures that include application submission and management approval. This site provides general information for telecommuting as a commute alternative. However, it is best to check with your organization's management to see if you are eligible for telecommuting. Positions generally suited for telecommuting are those in which: Face-to-face interactions can be scheduled on specific days Internal and external clients' needs can be met while telecommuting Clear work objectives can be met Productivity may be increased by uninterrupted time (e.g., data entry, planning, editing, reading, research, and word processing) Resources http://www.GilGordon.com/ Operating since May 1995, this site consolidates a wide variety of information from around the world, and from many different perspectives, on the subjects of telecommuting, teleworking, the virtual office, and related topics. The site is maintained by Gil Gordon and Associates. Gil Gordon is known around the world as one of the foremost telecommuting experts. Since establishing his consulting practice in 1982, he has specialized in helping private- and public-sector firms establish successful telecommuting programs, and in advising providers of products and services on effective marketplace strategies. http://www.Telecommute.org/ This site is maintained by The International Telework Association and Council, whose mission is to drive the growth and success of work independent of location and promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of Telework. Telecommuter Productivity Levels The International Telework Association and Council conducted a survey in 2001 that showed the following: The influence of working at home on productivity is important to organizations considering the move to telework. Many managers fear that performance will decline when one is away from the workplace. Over seventy percent (72.4%) reported that working at home slightly or greatly increased productivity; 19.5% reported that it remained the same; and 6.5% reported that their productivity slightly decreased since working at home. Frequently Asked Questions How many employees in the U.S. telecommute? () It seems to be on a steady growth curve, with approximately 16.5 million telecommuters in the U.S. today according to the 2000 survey sponsored by the International Telework Association and Council. Telecommuting is also growing in many areas of Europe, Canada, and the Pacific Rim countries. How does telecommuting fit in with other forms of workplace flexibility? Many employers who use telecommuting also make available options such as compressed work weeks, flextime, and others. These all have in common the idea that appropriate flexibility makes good business sense for the employer and employees alike. Does telecommuting interfere with organizations that emphasize teamwork? There are plenty of ways for team members to work together without being together. Also, most teams have some work that is collaborative in nature, but at least as much that's individual work. The key to using telecommuting in a team environment is to organize the work so that most of the individual work is reserved for telecommuting days, while the collaboration takes place when everyone is in the office. This might mean, for example, that the team decides to have everyone in the office on Tuesdays and Fridays to assure enough time together. Even when some team members are telecommuting, it's still possible to collaborate at a distance - individual phone calls, conference calls, email, groupware, and fax are five of the tools that can be used. Is telecommuting limited to BIG organizations? While many of the news reports focus on the Fortune 500-type companies, most telecommuting happens in smaller companies. Most employment in the US and many other countries is spread across a large number of small companies, and isn't concentrated in the biggest ones. Small companies can adopt innovations more quickly, are often under pressure to cut costs or retain key people, and don't have to struggle with thick policy manuals and endless committee meetings before making changes like introducing telecommuting. Will telecommuting hold me back in my career growth? While many people believe this to be true, the evidence to date does not support this concern of being "out of mind" because you're "out of sight." Since telecommuters are still coming into the office regularly, they don't disappear. Also, the training for both telecommuters and managers should include tips on career management at a distance. If anything, most managers of telecommuters report that their telecommuters are often more promotable rather than less, because the experience of working at a distance helps demonstrate their capacity for more responsibility. (excerpted from www.gilgordon.com )

Triangle Commute Solution: Telecommute

For many, Telecommuting is the ultimate solution!
In fact, it is the most popular commute and has the most impact on reducing traffic congestion and improving air quality. Many employers and employees have discovered the many benefits of telecommute programs.

Employee benefits

Increased job satisfaction
Increased productivity as a result of continuous, uninterrupted work time
Improved air quality
Flexibility to manage work and family life schedule
Reduced absenteeism
Financial savings
Reduced traffic congestion
Reduced car maintenance

Employer benefits

Increased employee productivity
Improved employee morale
Expanded hiring opportunities
Improved air quality
Improved recruitment and retention of employees
Reduced absenteeism
Increased compliance with commute trip reduction policies
Emergency readiness
Expanded parking space
Reduced need for office space
Financial savings
Reduced traffic congestion

Telecommute refers to work that is done from a location other than the usual place of business-for example, home, a satellite office, or a telework center. The broadest definition of the word used today is when an employee uses telecommunications and computer technology to give them the freedom to work any time from any location. This could mean checking emails from a client's office, working late night when the kids are in bed, or writing a report from a coffee shop. Today, there is a new emphasis on family friendly workplaces, health, and general well being. These values have motivated workers to seek out work arrangements such as telecommuting.

Telecommuting is not a one-size fits all proposition; nor is it a concrete set of standard operating procedures. There are many types of telecommute arrangements and programs and ways to implement them. Moreover, telecommute is a growth concept; we are constantly refining it as we use it and as we learn more about how it works.

Getting Started

Many organizations have structured telecommuting programs with procedures that include application submission and management approval. This site provides general information for telecommuting as a commute alternative. However, it is best to check with your organization's management to see if you are eligible for telecommuting.

Positions generally suited for telecommuting are those in which:

Face-to-face interactions can be scheduled on specific days
Internal and external clients' needs can be met while telecommuting
Clear work objectives can be met
Productivity may be increased by uninterrupted time (e.g., data entry, planning, editing, reading, research, and word processing)

Resources

http://www.GilGordon.com/
Operating since May 1995, this site consolidates a wide variety of information from around the world, and from many different perspectives, on the subjects of telecommuting, teleworking, the virtual office, and related topics. The site is maintained by Gil Gordon and Associates. Gil Gordon is known around the world as one of the foremost telecommuting experts. Since establishing his consulting practice in 1982, he has specialized in helping private- and public-sector firms establish successful telecommuting programs, and in advising providers of products and services on effective marketplace strategies.
http://www.Telecommute.org/
This site is maintained by The International Telework Association and Council, whose mission is to drive the growth and success of work independent of location and promote the economic, social and environmental benefits of Telework.

Telecommuter Productivity Levels
The International Telework Association and Council conducted a survey in 2001 that showed the following: The influence of working at home on productivity is important to organizations considering the move to telework. Many managers fear that performance will decline when one is away from the workplace. Over seventy percent (72.4%) reported that working at home slightly or greatly increased productivity; 19.5% reported that it remained the same; and 6.5% reported that their productivity slightly decreased since working at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many employees in the U.S. telecommute?
() It seems to be on a steady growth curve, with approximately 16.5 million telecommuters in the U.S. today according to the 2000 survey sponsored by the International Telework Association and Council. Telecommuting is also growing in many areas of Europe, Canada, and the Pacific Rim countries.

How does telecommuting fit in with other forms of workplace flexibility?
Many employers who use telecommuting also make available options such as compressed work weeks, flextime, and others. These all have in common the idea that appropriate flexibility makes good business sense for the employer and employees alike.

Does telecommuting interfere with organizations that emphasize teamwork?
There are plenty of ways for team members to work together without being together. Also, most teams have some work that is collaborative in nature, but at least as much that's individual work. The key to using telecommuting in a team environment is to organize the work so that most of the individual work is reserved for telecommuting days, while the collaboration takes place when everyone is in the office. This might mean, for example, that the team decides to have everyone in the office on Tuesdays and Fridays to assure enough time together. Even when some team members are telecommuting, it's still possible to collaborate at a distance - individual phone calls, conference calls, email, groupware, and fax are five of the tools that can be used.

Is telecommuting limited to BIG organizations?
While many of the news reports focus on the Fortune 500-type companies, most telecommuting happens in smaller companies. Most employment in the US and many other countries is spread across a large number of small companies, and isn't concentrated in the biggest ones. Small companies can adopt innovations more quickly, are often under pressure to cut costs or retain key people, and don't have to struggle with thick policy manuals and endless committee meetings before making changes like introducing telecommuting.

Will telecommuting hold me back in my career growth?
While many people believe this to be true, the evidence to date does not support this concern of being "out of mind" because you're "out of sight." Since telecommuters are still coming into the office regularly, they don't disappear. Also, the training for both telecommuters and managers should include tips on career management at a distance. If anything, most managers of telecommuters report that their telecommuters are often more promotable rather than less, because the experience of working at a distance helps demonstrate their capacity for more responsibility. (excerpted from www.gilgordon.com )