[Quotes]


Two-thirds of Fortune 1000 companies currently have telecommuting programs, half of which were instituted in the past two years. A majority of those with telecommuting programs expect them to continue to grow, while nearly 60% of executives from companies without programs expect to institute one with the next three years.


Nearly two-thirds of Fortune 1000 executives view telecommuting as not only good for employees, but also advantageous to employers.


"Employers enthusiastically cited enhanced worker productivity, the ability to retain valuable employees, and increased employee loyalty as the benefits...[from]...telecommuting programs." -- Conference Board 1994


Telecommuting costs often absorbed by employees can include:
  1. Buying a larger house to create office space.
  2. Purchase of office furniture and supplies.
  3. Installation of extra phone lines.
  4. Photocopiers, fax machines, printers.
  5. Heating and air conditioning caused by the home being occupied more hours per day.
  6. Business phone charges not refunded (long distance, 3-way calling, voice mail, etc).
  7. Equipment repairs.
  8. Insurance.
  9. Interior decoration.
  10. Extra phone handsets and answering machines.


"The average medium sized car in the EU emits some 3 tonnes of CO2 every year." -- Michael Mann, European Voice, January 11 - 17, 1996.


"The [EC] Commission's favoured approach to reducing CO2 pollution is through agreement with the auto industry and importers to draw up emission targets ... combined with fiscal measures to promote fuel efficient cars within an overall initiative on vehicle taxation." -- Michael Mann, European Voice, January 11 - 17, 1996.


Think about teleworking if:
  1. You are growing, adding staff, and running out of space.
  2. Rental or lease costs are increasing.
  3. You're under pressure to reduce costs, and you need to examine current facility and overhead expenses.
  4. Some departments or functions already perform a significant portion of their jobs away from the office.
  5. Your leases are up for renewal, and you are looking at options.
  6. Dispersal of employees would reduce the organization's exposure in case of emergencies and national disasters such as earthquakes or serious weather problems.
-- Adapted from Teleworking, A Discussion about Working Alternatives Steelcase


When teleworking is made mandatory, support from the central office is more vital than when teleworkers are self-selected.


Union concerns regarding flexible workplace arrangements include:
  1. The union's continued ability to effectively represent telecommuters.
  2. Equity in the selection of telecommuters (eg rank, performance ratings, residence, etc).
  3. Level of support (eg sophistication of equipment, clerical assistance, etc).
  4. Return of micro-management procedures and piecework assignment techniques.
  5. Adherance to labor standards laws (eg overtime, safety, etc).
  6. Home inspections, electronic monitoring, and other potential invasions of the worker's privacy.
  7. Efforts to convert career employees to contract personnel.
-- Adapted from Federal Interagency Telecommuting Centers, an Interim Report by the GSA March 1995.


"Telecommuting ... A definition
A business strategy ... promoting flexible work environments by effectively utilizing communications based office technology, which creates measurable business value for the company, the individual, and their customers." -- AT&T 1995


"...Workers...have given up on the freeway and now use the information superhighway to get to work. It's called Telecommuting and it's catching on." -- Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News, March 22, 1994


"In 1990 there were ... 2 million telecommuters ... 7.8 million this year [1994] and by 2001, an estimated 30 million telecommuters." -- Tom Brokaw, NBC Nightly News, March 22, 1994


"The effectiveness of the telecommuters has increased by an average of 12.5% ..." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 4


"... The annual economic impact of this improvement is about $6,100 per telecommuter. Other benefits increase this total." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 4


"... The annual [total] net benefits could be as high as ... $8,500 per telecommuter ..." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 4


"... 18% of the telecommuters said that the ability to telecommute was a moderate to decisive influence on their decision to stay ... rather than take a job elsewhere." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 4


"The reduction [in sick leave, except for maternity leave] was more than 5 days per year, compared with female members of the control group." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 16


"... Telecommuting days per month tends to increase over time ... An expected average of 4.2 days per month ... [after] a year ... With 2 years experience, ... 8 days per month." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, pp. 20-21


"The overall evidence is that it is particularly important that supervisors receive training." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 26


"... The telecommuters show quality of life changes that are more positive in every respect than those of non-telecommuters." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 30


"Telecom' Technology Owned at Home [by participants in LA Pilot by end of project] 
        Type                         Telecommuters          Non-Telecommuters
        ========================     =============          =================
        Personal Computer                73.7                     58.2
        Computer Modem                   39.7                     19.0
        Electronic Mail                  10.3                      6.3
        Answering Machine                89.3                     73.4
        Voice Mail                        3.2                      1.3
        Multiple Telephone Lines         30.1                     19.0
        Call Waiting                     42.9                     25.3
        Call Forwarding                  14.7                      7.6
        Audio Conferencing                7.1                      1.3"
-- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 33


"... If the City [LA] were to have its 15,934 telecommuters working from home an average of 1.4 days epr week, then the anual polution reduction would be on the order of: -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 48


"... In the year 2000, telecommuting could be associated with a ten billion dollar improvement in the region's economy, compared to, what it might be with no telecommuting." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 52


"... Motivation of managers is fundamental to the success of telecommuting ... their fundamental role ... [is] ... to change attitudes ... where existing attitudes are impeding acceptance of telecommuting." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 64


"... Two hours of training for the telecommuters and two hours for the telemanagers was the minimum ..." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 65


"... Benefits from performance increases ... far outweigh the costs of additional computer equipment." -- City of Los Angeles Telecommuting Project: Final Report, JALA International, Los Angeles, California, March 1993, p. 72


"... Most telecommuting in the U.S. remains part-time and informal." -- 1993 Telecommuting Data, Link Resources, NY, USA, p. 2


"... Average Annual Growth Rate [of telecommuters], 15% per year.
... [of which] 
            Knowledge / Information workers          74%
            Executives, Managers                     12%
            Teachers                                 13%
            Engineers, Scientists                    11%
            Business Professionals                   11%"
-- 1993 Telecommuting Data, Link Resources, NY, USA, p. 3

"In 1993, mid-sized business doubled their share of telecommuting to 18% of the total." -- 1993 Home Office Trend Fact Sheet, from Small Office/Home Office Forecast, 1992-1997, Link Resources, NY, USA


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