TeleworkTelework

Definitions, Issues and TrendsDefinitions, Issues and Trends

Teleworker!Teleworker!

What is Telework?What is Telework? Telework or telecommuting occurs when paid Telework or telecommuting occurs when paid

workers reduce their commute by carrying workers reduce their commute by carrying out all or part of, their work away from out all or part of, their work away from normal places of business, usually home.normal places of business, usually home.

Some definitions suggest that all telework Some definitions suggest that all telework must use technologymust use technology

Other definitions suggest that it refers only to Other definitions suggest that it refers only to employees. In Europe telework is employees employees. In Europe telework is employees and self-employed home based workersand self-employed home based workers

Discussion of Telework BasesDiscussion of Telework Bases

From policy perspective, there is a risk in From policy perspective, there is a risk in defining telework too narrowly. Issues such defining telework too narrowly. Issues such as frequency, number of hours, distance as frequency, number of hours, distance from work and method of work are variances from work and method of work are variances to be worked out to meet employer needsto be worked out to meet employer needs

Core element of telework is people doing Core element of telework is people doing work at locations different from normalwork at locations different from normal

Frequency of telework –same whether full, Frequency of telework –same whether full, part time, periodic or ad-hoc. Key is the part time, periodic or ad-hoc. Key is the activity not frequencyactivity not frequency

Discussions of Telework BasesDiscussions of Telework Bases

Telework applies to “paid workers” which Telework applies to “paid workers” which includes:includes:

Employees, self employed contractors and Employees, self employed contractors and home based consultants using technologyhome based consultants using technology

Nature or length of commute does not Nature or length of commute does not mattermatter

Use of IT: technology is the enabler of Use of IT: technology is the enabler of telework but not always—creative work at telework but not always—creative work at home without technology qualifies home without technology qualifies

Factors Affecting TeleworkFactors Affecting Telework Job must be suited, at least in part, to Job must be suited, at least in part, to

performance at remote locationperformance at remote location Capabilities and personal characteristics of Capabilities and personal characteristics of

employee appropriate to working without employee appropriate to working without supervisionsupervision

Managers must accept conceptManagers must accept concept Employees must feel comfortable with Employees must feel comfortable with

telecommuting in terms of personal habits, telecommuting in terms of personal habits, effects on social interaction and career effects on social interaction and career advancement advancement

Suitable workplace and available technologySuitable workplace and available technology

Factors Affecting TeleworkFactors Affecting Telework

Level of motivation- local transport Level of motivation- local transport environment will be important in environment will be important in establishing level of motivationestablishing level of motivation

Cost benefit implications for businessCost benefit implications for business Social isolation and promotion Social isolation and promotion

considerationsconsiderations

Telework FormsTelework Forms

Electronic homework- paid full employment form Electronic homework- paid full employment form homehome

Telecottages-shared facilities from which Telecottages-shared facilities from which teleworking to other locations can take place- teleworking to other locations can take place- shared access telework facilities in rural areas in shared access telework facilities in rural areas in UK/EuropeUK/Europe

Nomadic or mobile workers- use portable ICT Nomadic or mobile workers- use portable ICT equipment and work from combination of equipment and work from combination of locationslocations

Remote offices- specialist offices- telephone call Remote offices- specialist offices- telephone call centers (United Awards in Huntingdon, WV)centers (United Awards in Huntingdon, WV)

Group or team telework- geographically Group or team telework- geographically distributed work made possible by ICTdistributed work made possible by ICT

Interactions Between Telework Interactions Between Telework and Traveland Travel

Substitution- telecoms decreases travelSubstitution- telecoms decreases travel Enhancement- telecoms stimulates travelEnhancement- telecoms stimulates travel Operational Efficiency- telecoms improves Operational Efficiency- telecoms improves

travel by making system more efficienttravel by making system more efficient Indirect, Long Term Impacts- does Indirect, Long Term Impacts- does

telecoms affect location and land use?telecoms affect location and land use?

Participation in TeleworkParticipation in Telework

Americans who work from home at least Americans who work from home at least one day a week- 24.1 million in 2004; 23.5 one day a week- 24.1 million in 2004; 23.5 million in 2003million in 2003

Full time teleworkers increased to 12.4 Full time teleworkers increased to 12.4 million from 8.8 million in 2003 (41 million from 8.8 million in 2003 (41 percent increasepercent increase

Dominant or typical worker is regular Dominant or typical worker is regular employee with range of skills employee with range of skills

Increasingly managers are tele-Increasingly managers are tele-commuting- why?commuting- why?