We have discussed telecommuting on many occassions and this morning’s JustSell.com email referenced this survey. Some points of data to consider:
While only 23 percent of U.S. employees work from home or are given that option, most of the work force (59 percent) believes that telecommuting at least part-time is the ideal work situation. This includes the 38 percent who think a mix of coming into the office and working from home is preferable and the 21 percent who say working at home is the best.
We are seeing this play out in our current sourcing activities. The younger generations are highly receptive to telecommuting and view it as a strong benefit of a position.
From a productivity side, consider this finding:
Despite technologies that allow employees to put in time while heading to and from work, three-quarters (73 percent) rarely or never get work done during their commute.
Gas prices will come in to play on this topic also. As will workers moving to the outer rings (exurbs) of metropolitan areas. One hour, one way commutes are global time wasters when compared to telecommuting.
One last point from the survey that reinforces our previous statements:
“As competition for talent heats up, employers will be forced to consider alternative retention tactics such as permitting telecommuting,” according to Peg Buchenroth, managing director, compensation and benefits, Hudson Highland Group. “While this is not feasible in all situations, most employees want the flexibility to be able to get work done without going into the office at least every once in a while.”
There is a stigma about telecommuting that is prevalent amongst the Baby Boomers. If you are not at the office, you are not working. Gen X and certainly Gen Y are wired for communication via email, BlackBerries, cell phones and text messaging. Most of them are just as productive away from the office as they are in the office.
There is a control factor that plays in to this stigma also. Most boomer managers started their careers in a hierarchal workplace years ago that is, in today’s environment, flattening out to a more horizontal chain-of-command. The boomers may feel they give up some control if they cannot monitor their employees. This is true to some extent, but there has to be a trust level given to the employee. If they are unable to handle telecommuting, the results will be observable. We often encourage companies to step out of the box and give this trend a try.