Telework

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Telework

• Definitions, Issues and Trends

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Teleworker!
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What is Telework?

• Telework or telecommuting occurs when paid
  workers reduce their commute by carrying out all
  or part of, their work away from normal places of
  business, usually home.
• Some definitions suggest that all telework must
  use technology
• Other definitions suggest that it refers only to
  employees. In Europe telework is employees and
  self-employed home based workers

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Discussion of Telework Bases

• From policy perspective, there is a risk in
  defining telework too narrowly. Issues such as
  frequency, number of hours, distance from work
  and method of work are variances to be worked out
  to meet employer needs
• Core element of telework is people doing work at
  locations different from normal
• Frequency of telework same whether full, part
  time, periodic or ad-hoc. Key is the activity not
  frequency

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Discussions of Telework Bases

• Telework applies to paid workers which
  includes
• Employees, self employed contractors and home
  based consultants using technology
• Nature or length of commute does not matter
• Use of IT technology is the enabler of telework
  but not alwayscreative work at home without
  technology qualifies

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Factors Affecting Telework

• Job must be suited, at least in part, to
  performance at remote location
• Capabilities and personal characteristics of
  employee appropriate to working without
  supervision
• Managers must accept concept
• Employees must feel comfortable with
  telecommuting in terms of personal habits,
  effects on social interaction and career
  advancement
• Suitable workplace and available technology

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Factors Affecting Telework

• Level of motivation- local transport environment
  will be important in establishing level of
  motivation
• Cost benefit implications for business
• Social isolation and promotion considerations

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Telework Forms

• Electronic homework- paid full employment form
  home
• Telecottages-shared facilities from which
  teleworking to other locations can take place-
  shared access telework facilities in rural areas
  in UK/Europe
• Nomadic or mobile workers- use portable ICT
  equipment and work from combination of locations
• Remote offices- specialist offices- telephone
  call centers (United Awards in Huntingdon, WV)
• Group or team telework- geographically
  distributed work made possible by ICT

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Interactions Between Telework and Travel

• Substitution- telecoms decreases travel
• Enhancement- telecoms stimulates travel
• Operational Efficiency- telecoms improves travel
  by making system more efficient
• Indirect, Long Term Impacts- does telecoms affect
  location and land use?

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Participation in Telework

• Americans who work from home at least one day a
  week- 24.1 million in 2004 23.5 million in 2003
• Full time teleworkers increased to 12.4 million
  from 8.8 million in 2003 (41 percent increase
• Dominant or typical worker is regular employee
  with range of skills
• Increasingly managers are tele-commuting- why?