Management of Management of telecommutingtelecommuting

What is the telecommuting?What is the telecommuting?

The practice of working from home and communicating with your fellow workers using teleconferencing.

Telecommuting uses telecommunication technology such as the Internet to work outside of the traditional workplace. An individual may be on a company's payroll, but perform his or her duties from the home

The benefits and drawbacksThe benefits and drawbacks 1, 1, Benefits for employersBenefits for employers

Cost savingsCost savings The main savings are in premises costs, office The main savings are in premises costs, office

overheads and labour.overheads and labour.

Increased productivityIncreased productivity Productivity increases of 40% have been reported, Productivity increases of 40% have been reported,

though a range of 10%-40% is probably more though a range of 10%-40% is probably more typical across a large-scale programme. typical across a large-scale programme.

Organisation flexibilityOrganisation flexibility In the event of restructuring and reorganisation people can In the event of restructuring and reorganisation people can continue to work without disruption to their personal lives.continue to work without disruption to their personal lives.

Benefits for individualsBenefits for individuals

Improved work opportunitiesImproved work opportunities Work opportunities are not confined to jobs within Work opportunities are not confined to jobs within

reasonable commuting distance.reasonable commuting distance.Better balance of work and family lifeBetter balance of work and family life

Even though the teleworker may put in more hours of Even though the teleworker may put in more hours of effective work, he or she can still expect to see more effective work, he or she can still expect to see more of the family and can more easily participate in home of the family and can more easily participate in home responsibilities such as ferrying children, shopping responsibilities such as ferrying children, shopping etc. etc.

Reduced travel time and costsReduced travel time and costs

This is the most obvious benefit and, for many This is the most obvious benefit and, for many teleworkers, a primary motivation. In our surveys, teleworkers, a primary motivation. In our surveys, most teleworkers have used at least part of this most teleworkers have used at least part of this time to get more work done, in contrast to the time to get more work done, in contrast to the "relaxed lifestyle" image painted by the media."relaxed lifestyle" image painted by the media.

Social and economic benefitsSocial and economic benefits

Reduced traffic congestionReduced traffic congestion • In the most intensive commuter areas its quite In the most intensive commuter areas its quite

noticeable how much more easily the traffic noticeable how much more easily the traffic flows when even ten percent of commuters are flows when even ten percent of commuters are away on holiday.away on holiday.

Reduced total travel and consequent Reduced total travel and consequent pollutionpollution • The same transport-telecommunications The same transport-telecommunications

substitution study also confirmed that substitution study also confirmed that teleworkers do generate a worthwhile net teleworkers do generate a worthwhile net reduction in total car travel.reduction in total car travel.

Are there drawbacks?Are there drawbacks?

• As with any new technology or technique, As with any new technology or technique, telework only yields benefits when applied in telework only yields benefits when applied in the right circumstances and in the right way. the right circumstances and in the right way. We are developing a "Frequently Asked We are developing a "Frequently Asked Questions"* section for this web site that will Questions"* section for this web site that will list and address all the issues that need to be list and address all the issues that need to be considered in order to run a successful considered in order to run a successful telework programme, whether as an telework programme, whether as an individual, as an enterprise, or in support of a individual, as an enterprise, or in support of a local community or region. Meanwhile, the local community or region. Meanwhile, the main aspects that have to be right in order for main aspects that have to be right in order for telework to yield benefits rather than telework to yield benefits rather than problems are problems are

The placeThe place

..Many homes are not well equipped for some Many homes are not well equipped for some kinds of teleworkkinds of telework

The person Home based telework is inappropriate for some people - for example those who have poor personal motivation and are not "self starters" may need the external discipline provided by set hours and a managed environment.

The employer organisation Some companies have management systems and cultures that are not (yet) well adapted to the flexibility that telework can entail. Our survey of UK managers' opinions showed that there are many manager who lack confidence in their ability to "manage at a distance", and also those who lack faith in their staff's commitment and so feel that home based workers would be inclined to underperform.