The Best Commute is No Commute
With IT capabilities that seamlessly allow people to work from home, many companies offer teleworking as an option. Whether it's just once in a while, a set day each week, or staff actually working from their "home office". There are lots of options for staff and companies to implement this beneficial work option and be a TravelSmart business. Despite this, compared to their global counterparts, Canadian employers have been slow to introduce teleworking.
A recent global Ipsos survey found that 17% of employees report that they telework on a frequent basis.
This is a stark contrast to Canada’s teleworking rate: only 8% of Canadians regularly telework, which is half the global rate.
This is surprising considering the survey found that 21% of Canadian respondents saying they would jump at the chance to work from home if the choice was offered.
Canadian employers are wary of introducing a telecommute policy, despite the many benefits that telecommute has to offer both the employer and employee. In fact, companies that offer telework typically notice an increase in productivity. No wonder, since commuting can often be the most stressful part of an employee's day. Without the constant interruptions of meetings, social chatter, informal "pop-ins" and other daily occurrences, employees are able to remain focused on their work.
Benefits for Employers:
- Increased productivity.
- Lowered absenteeism rates.
- Improves company's attractiveness for recruitment and retention.
- Reduces your company's carbon footprint.
- It's a built-in emergency preparedness plan in case of bad weather or other situation that prevents people from coming into work.
Benefits for Your Employees:
- Staff save time on their commute, money on parking and car maintenance, and eliminate what can be stressful, especially if in rush hour.
- There's an increase in overall quality of life when employees are able to better balance work-life responsibilities.
- Opens up opportunities for people who find it challenging to get to the main office.
Commuting can often be the most stressful part of an employee’s day
Starting a Telework Program at Work:
If your company is looking to offer telework, there are certain key considerations:
- Not everyone is a good candidate. The best teleworkers are independent, highly-motivated and very organized.
- Not all projects are suitable. Some projects are highly collaborative or require a lot of pass-offs.
- Logistical support will be required. Will the company be supplying a computer for home use? Will the employee submit receipts for expenses? Who's paying for the Internet? Get this all down on paper.
For more ideas on how to implement a telework policy in your workplace, see our Telework Toolkit below, which is full of helpful information and ideas:
Is your company offering telework? Submit a comment below and tell us about your company and staff experiences working from home.