TAI - Teleworking Pros & Cons

Benefits to Employer

Better concentration: many interruptions to work flow are avoided => greater productivity.
No late starting because of travel difficulties which may cause:
1. Late or non-arrival of employee.
2. "Decompression" time lost as employee recovers from a difficult commute.
Less time taken off due to illness:
1. Employees who are sufficiently unwell not to commute might be able to work from home.
2. Employees recovering from serious illness might be able to work during recuperative period.
3. Because employees are more isolated, they are less likely to spread or contract contagious diseases such as flu, colds, viruses, etc.
4. Employees are generally in better health because of reduced stress and exposure to pollution.
5. Employees are less likely to be injured while commuting.
Less time taken off due to family crisis. Employees will have what would otherwise be commute time to deal with problems and still be available during any designated "core" work time.
Less productivity loss due to early wind down towards the end of the work day as employees mentally start to prepare to leave and clear their desks.
Reduced labor turnover because:
1. Flexible work offering makes employees reluctant to leave employment - modem/ISDN line becomes a form of umbilical cord.
2. Flexible working is more appealing to well educated graduates, so they are less likely to switch jobs as freely.
3. Maternity and medical related incidents will result in less staff leaving employment because they can work almost right up to and much sooner after the event.
4. Employees can move further away without losing their jobs.
Facilitates recuriting because:
1. Flexible working is more appealing, especially to the educated younger generation, than having a 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM day (including commute time).
2. Employer can appeal to a large labor pool of disabled, those with young families, or the elderly.
3. Employer can tap into a larger labor pool that is futher away from city centers and also often less expensive.
Increased client contact because Teleworking / Telecommuting related equipment frees staff from their desks.
May be able to save having to offer "company cars" as an employee benefit.
May not need to grant public transport season tickets as an employee benefit.
May be able to reduce parking subsidies as an employee benefit.
May be able to reduce or eliminate catering subsidies or the facilities themselves.

Benefits to Employee

Many interruptions to work flow are avoided (better concentration) => get more done.
Travel difficulties are avoided. These could be caused either by a breakdown of personal transport or disruption / delays en route to office. These could cause:
1. Loss of pay because of lateness or non-arrival.
2. Increased stress generated by a difficult commute.
Less time taken off due to illness.
1. If employee is too ill to commute, (s)he might still be well enough to work at home.
2. If employee is recuperating from serious illness, (s)he might be well enough to work at home.
3. Employee is less likely to contract contagious diseases such as flu, colds, viruses, etc.
4. Improved general health because of reduced stress and exposure to pollution.
Increased personal safety:
1. Reduced risk of commuting accident.
2. Less exposure to violence en route to and at the work place.
Ability to cope more easily with personal family matters. What was once commuting time is now available to make arrangements to cover school closings, minor family illnesses, and household repairs, services, etc. by outside contractors.
Almost no "decompression" time needed once work day is over to recover from stress of commute - rest of household doesn't need to have to wait while you "chill out"!
Will have more time to spend on improving personal skills / education thereby commanding better job security.
Lowers cost of living through:
1. Being able to live further out of town in cheaper housing areas.
2. Reduced commute costs because:
  1. Less vechicle fuel needed because less mileage driven.
  2. Changes to insurance policy because of less commuting.
  3. Less vehicle maintenance needed because less mileage driven.
  4. May be able to sell vehicle or buy a smaller one.
3. Less purchases of business clothing; would wear casual clothes more often.
4. Lower dry cleaning costs; casual clothes are generally more washable at home.
5. Lower personal grooming costs: less makeup & hair cutting / tintings, etc.
Reduced child or elder care because drop-off and/or pick-up times can be adjusted to reduce hours under care.

Benefits to Society / Community

Less vehicles (cars, vans, buses) on roads results in:
1. Reduced need to build new roads.
2. Reduced need to increase capacity of existing roads.
3. Reduced maintenance of existing roads.
4. Reduced toxic gas emissions.
Less need for other modes of transport resulting in:
1. Reduced need to build new track / airports.
2. Reduced need to buy new rolling stock / larger aircraft.
3. Reduced maintenance of rights of way / runways.
4. Reduced toxic gas emissions.
All of which would result in:
1. Reduced need to increase taxes.
2. Possibility of reduced taxes.
3. Less societal discontent between commuters and "greens".
4. Reduced vechicle fuel needs, therefore:
  1. Fewer delivery trips of flammable liquids (greater safety on roads).
  2. Improved Balance of Trade.
  3. Less risk of spillage pollution.

Negatives to Employer

Concerns of management about:
1. Accessibility to employees - "Where are they when I want them?"
2. Loss of control - "If I can't see them, I can't control them."
3. Reduced productivity - "Are my staff really working or watching TV?"
4. Security - "How do I know that my database won't be corrupted if my staff log on to the Internet?"
5. Work information flow - "If they are away from the office, how can I tell when I should try to get more work to my staff?"
6. Loss of client contact - "You can't shake hands over a fax machine."
Teleworking employees can reduce productivity of office employees by asking the latter to find / read / copy / fax files that are not on hand at home or at local Telecenter.

Negatives to Employee

Guilt that being more productive than non-teleworkers may show them up. This might lead to resentment and/or unemployment.
May have to spend money (unexpected expenses) in order to:
1. Decorate / finish an area for Home Office use.
2. Add or improve electrical outlets and/or lighting.
3. Have extra phone line(s) installed.
4. Buy communication / computer equipment and/or software.
5. Buy extra insurance to cover computers, furniture, business visitors, etc.
6. Build separate entrance and walkway to Home Office.
7. Buy work related furniture.
8. Pay legal costs associated with local authority permits.
Will have to carry out own typing, filing, and other routine office functions.
Will loose subsidised food & beverages; will have to pay for them at home.
Loss of subsidised public transport may cost employee on days that (s)he does need to attend meetings at the office.

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