Teleworking
What are the benefits to me as an employee?
How would you like to decrease your work stress, reduce your commute time and costs, and increase your participation in local community activities? Telework is a way for you to use technology to not go into a traditional office setting every day. Just think of all the time you will save not having to commute. Now you will have more time to spend with your family and friends or be able to pursue other interests. You can work in a telework center or be a home-based teleworker, based upon what options are provided by your company.
What can I do?
- Contact your supervisor or human resources department to see if your work skills or position allows you to work remotely from your office. A key factor is being able to perform tasks away from the workplace.
- Determine how much time you will devote each week to telework - 1 or 2 days a week or more?
- Ask if your company pays for the costs of telework arrangements such as computer equipment, network access, additional phone lines, printers and office equipment.
- Work closely with your manager so as to not feel "out of the loop" when attending onsite meetings. Make an effort to attend onsite meetings and social activities on a regular basis.
- Participate in company orientations and trainings on telework.
- Offer to give back part of your travel time savings to your employer in the form of added work time, making this a win-win program for all.
Case Study: Sun Microsystems
Employees from the finance, tax, legal, and human resource departments of Sun Microsystems researched other companies that already had telework programs in place. It was determined that a telework program at Sun Microsystems would enhance the employee morale as well as the company's bottom line. The telework program is very successful with over 3,000 employees working from all over the country, in Canada, and in ten European countries.
Employees have reported a 34 percent increase in productivity and increased job satisfaction. Sun Microsystems has been recognized as one of the top 20 Best Workplaces for Commuters for Fortune 500 companies.
Source: Best Workplaces for Commuters: United States Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation, January 2005
Weblinks
www.yourata.com - The American Telecommuting Association
www.reason.org/ps338.pdf - Telecommuting: The Quiet Success
www.telecommute.org - International Telework Association and Council
www.gsa.gov/awa - U.S. General Services Administration