How telework benefits the individual, business, economy, environment and society
There are many definitions of ‘Telework’ and ‘Teleworker’ and we are often asked the question “How do I become a Teleworker?”. Our view is that ‘Telework’ is like ‘Television’ or ‘Telephone’, it is any work carried out at a distance. One common form of telework is working at home, but working in any location away from the employer or manager or colleagues can be included. The term ‘Teleworker’ can apply to someone who is an employee or self-employed and covers people in a wide variety of occupations. So teleworking is a way of getting work done not a job or occupation or career. It doesn’t even have to be dependent on the use of technology although most teleworkers take advantage of IT to enable them to keep in touch with colleagues.
Teleworking is one of the few cases which deliver a win-win scenario for employers, employees and the self-employed. It improves the output of employees, both in quality and quantity, whilst improving the work-life balance of the individual. It helps to rejuvenate local communities and reduce the waste and pollution of commuting. So at every level, individual, business, industry, society or even the whole economy, it brings benefits. Some of these are highly quantifiable, such as cost savings, whilst others, such as the quality of life, may be less tangible but are certainly no less important.
Benefits for the individual
The individual teleworker is able to eliminate or reduce the hassle of commuting. This saves a significant amount of wasted time and money as well as reducing stress. When combined with other forms of flexible working it can allow people to improve their work-life balance. Being able to pick up the children from school, shop outside peak hours and take a more active role in the local community are other possibilities.
However one of the key benefits of working from home is that people find it much more productive than going in to a conventional workplace. Teleworkers are able to work in surroundings they have chosen without the interruptions often found in the open plan offices of today. With broadband communications and electronic communications they are able to achieve many tasks that have conventionally been done at the office desk and now with webmeeting technology they can have video meetings without having to travel.
Business Benefits
Whilst teleworking and other forms of flexible working are often viewed as ‘family friendly’ rather than ‘business friendly’ in fact they are both. There is strong research evidence to show that remote and flexible workers are more productive more reliable and more loyal than their office based counterparts. They have a better work-life balance, waste less time and money on unnecessary travel and therefore are ‘greener’. In difficult economic times employers are looking for ways to reduce the cost of the workforce and increase efficiency. Encouraging telework does both by reducing the amount of office space required whilst increasing the output from employees.
Benefits to the Economy
The whole process of commuting to work is highly wasteful. The direct cost of transport and the cost of the infrastructure to support it is exacerbated by the peak-hour nature of commuting and the congestion that results. Teleworking reduces the demand for travel at these peak times and reduces the pressure on the transport systems. It also reduces the waste of productive time and the stress involved.
However the biggest potential benefit to the UK economy is the increase in productivity. As well as saving wasted travel time teleworking increases work output during the hours worked at home. Many organisations that have embraced teleworking have been able to increase output with the same number of staff or reduce headcount and still provide the same level of customer service.
Benefits to Society
Teleworking allows people to integrate their personal lives with their work responsibilities in a much more effective way than conventional work patterns. Whilst most flexible working patterns are seen as being good for families they are also a great improvement in lifestyle for others. Stress levels are reduced significantly if people are able to improve their work-life balance and cut back on commuting during the rush hour. Parents and carers are obvious beneficiaries of teleworking and consequently the children are likely to grow up in a more supportive environment.
By having people working at home during the day, local communities are likely to benefit. Neighbours are more likely to communicate and local facilities are more likely to be used. In the case of rural locations within commuting distance this can make the difference between them being ‘dormitory towns’ and thriving communities.
Benefits to the Environment
Teleworking involves the substitution of electronic communications for commuting. Known in the USA as ‘telecommuting’ this mode of work makes a significant reduction in the mileage travelled to and from the place of work. For someone working full time from home their commuting reduces to zero. They may even be able to reduce from a two-car to a one-car household.
A teleworker may need to consume more heat and power at home if their house would otherwise have been unoccupied. However may family homes still have occupants whilst one or more adults go out to work. Where teleworking is adopted in large organisations they are able to make significant savings in the amount of office space they occupy by having hot desks shared by employees. Savings of 30-40% of space are common.
