shrm poll: transitioning to a virtual organization

SHRM Poll, December 2, 2009 | ©SHRM 2009

December 2, 2009

SHRM Poll: Transitioning to a Virtual Organization


Definition• For the purpose of this survey, virtual office or

workspace is defined as the work site of employees such as sales reps, part-time or full-time telecommuters, etc. who work off company premises and communicate with their respective workplaces via telephone and/or computer.

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Does your organization currently provide virtual work options to your employees?

Provide

vir-tual work

op-tions52%

Do not provide virtual work options48%

3

Differences by organization staff size:• Respondents from large-staff-sized

(63%) and small-staff-sized organizations (55%) were significantly more likely than those from medium-staff-sized organizations (41%) to report that their organization provided virtual work options.

Differences by organization operations location:• Organizations with multinational

operations (63%) were more likely to provide virtual work options than organizations based only in the United States (48%).

n = 383

Note: Small-staff-sized organizations = 1-99 employees, medium-staff-sized = 100-499 employees, large-staff-sized = 500 or more employees.

Only statistically significant differences are presented.


What percentage of your employees work virtually?

Greater than 40%

31-40%

21-30%

11-20%

10% or less

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

8%

3%

8%

13%

68%

4

n = 176Note: Asked only of respondents who said that their organizations offered virtual work options. Excludes respondents who answered “not sure.”


Within the next 12 months, do you expect the percentage of your employees who work virtually to increase, decrease or remain the same?

Remain the same

Decrease

Increase

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

76%

3%

22%

5

n = 199Note: Asked only of respondents who said that their organizations offered virtual work options. Percentages do not total 100% due to rounding.


In what ways does your HR department currently support your organization’s virtual workforce?

Other

Provide cultural sensitivity training for leaders working globally

Establish rewards and recognition options

Provide training on leadership styles**

Work with IT to ensure training on technology*

Establish work/life balance guidelines

Provide e-learning courses for your virtual workforce

Ensure IT support for questions about hardware and software

Establish policy and procedures

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%100%

5%

8%

20%

26%

35%

35%

37%

66%

76%

6

n = 256*E.g., web conferencing software, webinars for working virtually, social networking tools, e-learning programs.**Styles that promote trust and maintain effective working relationships with virtual workers.

Note: Asked only of respondents who said that their organizations offered virtual work options. Percentages do not total 100% as respondents were allowed multiple choices.


Results From Companies That Do Not Offer

Virtual Work Options to Employees

7


Does your organization have plans to provide virtual work options to your employees within the next 12 months?

No,93%

Yes7%

8

n = 184Note: Asked only of respondents who said that their organizations did not offer virtual work options.


Demographics: Organizational Industry

Industry

Manufacturing 15%

Services—professional, scientific, technical, legal, engineering 10%

Financial services (e.g., banking) 9%

Government/public administration—federal, state/local, tribal 8%

Health care, social assistance (e.g., nursing homes, EAP providers) 8%

Educational services/education 7%

Retail/wholesale trade 6%

Consulting 4%

Insurance 4%

Transportation, warehousing (e.g., distribution) 4%

Construction, mining, oil and gas 3%

High-tech 3%

Other services (e.g., nonprofit, church/religious organizations) 3%

9

n = 383* Less than 1%Note: Percentages do not total 100% due to rounding.


Demographics: Organizational Industry (continued)

Industry

Services—accommodation, food and drinking places 3%

Pharmaceutical 2%

Real estate, rental, leasing 2%

Telecommunications 2%

Utilities 2%

Association—professional/trade 1%

Biotech 1%

Publishing, broadcasting, other media 1%

Arts, entertainment, recreation *

Other 3%

10

n = 383* Less than 1%Note: Percentages do not total 100% due to rounding.


Demographics: Organizational Sector

Government sector

Nonprofit organization

Publicly owned for-profit

Privately owned for-profit

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

10%

19%

21%

50%

11

n = 379


Demographics: Organization Staff Size

Small (1-99 employees) Medium (100-499 employees) Large (500 or more employees)0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

27%

42%

31%

12

n = 381


Demographics: Organization Region

Northeast

West

South

Midwest

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

20%

23%

25%

32%

13

n = 374


Demographics: Organization Operations Location

U.S.-based operations only Multinational operations0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

70%

30%

14

n = 379


SHRM Poll: Transitioning to a Virtual Organization

• Response rate = 17%• Sample consists of 383 randomly selected HR professionals

from SHRM’s membership• Margin of error is +/- 4 • Survey fielded November 19–24, 2009

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Methodology

shrm poll: transitioning to a virtual organization

Documents

virtual work options

sized organizations

virtual organizationshrm

work site of employees

virtual office

virtual workers

employees7shrm poll

organization staff size