"THE CITY OF NEPEAN RECOGNIZES THE VALUABLE
CONTRIBUTION TELEWORK MAKES TO OUR BUSINESSES AND TO THE COMMUNITY AS A
WHOLE."
MAYOR,
MARY PITT
|
Telework - or telecommuting - is a
rapidly growing trend in Canada. There are currently more than one million
teleworkers across the country, with 1.5 million forecast by the year 2001!
By reducing the need to commute to
and from work, the benefits of teleworking are immediately visible on our roadways
- less traffic congestion, fewer accidents, and reduced vehicle emissions and fuel
consumption. And the benefits don't stop there. In the years to come, teleworking
will have an even broader impact on our environment, our lifestyles, and our
community as a whole.
Nepean is home to many companies
with growing telework programs. Nortel Networks - Nepean's largest employer -
estimates that more than 10 per cent of its worldwide workforce telework
through
their 'Homebase' program. This brochure is designed to help employers and
employees better understand the telework concept, and to determine if it is right
for them.
WHAT IS
TELEWORK?
Telework is a flexible work arrangement which enables staff
to work from remote locations (most commonly at home) for some or all of the
workweek.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS
OF TELEWORK?
For employers:
- increased productivity
Teleworking 2 to 3 days per week can increase productivity by 10 to 20 per
cent.
- reduced absenteeism
Teleworkers require less time off due to illness, childcare, eldercare, and
personal business- which can add up to several days per year.
- efficient use of space
Teleworking alleviates the office space crunch and helps to manage growth
efficiently.
- fewer disruptions
Teleworkers remain productive during strikes, floods, bad weather and other
emergencies. Despite massive power shutdowns during the ice storm in 1998,
thousands of workers who still had power worked from home via the information
highway.
- improved recruitment and
retention
Telework can be an effective recruitment and retention tool, especially in
tight labour markets. Surveys show employees often would choose telework
over
a pay raise. For employees:
- better work-life balance
The imbalances between work and personal life, a major source of stress, can
be alleviated by telework.
- reduced commuting time
The average one-hour daily commute (that's six full work weeks per year) can
be reduced, even eliminated, with telework resulting in reduced stress,
traffic accidents, traffic congestion, and road rage.
- reduced absenteeism
Telework reduces personal leave by an average of 20 per cent.
- less overtime
Improved personal productivity and efficiency reduces the need for overtime.
- fewer expenses
Gas, parking, business attire, childcare, and other work-related expenses are
reduced.
- improved morale
Teleworkers are more likely to enjoy their work and remain loyal to their
employer.
IS TELEWORK RIGHT
FOR YOU?
Telework is not for everyone; and not all jobs are
teleworkable. Here are some of the success factors needed for telework to function
effectively.
The Right Job
To assess a particular job's suitability for telework, consider:
- the ease, speed and
confidentiality with
which the work can be performed remotely
- the degree of face-to-face
contact required
with managers, colleagues, or clients
- the need to access equipment and
documentation situated only at the workplace
- the existence of any special
security
requirements that might prohibit
telework
- the degree to which
you need specialized equipment and connectivity with the office
The Right
Teleworker
- is a self-motivated, organized
and disciplined
self-starter who does not require constant supervision or feedback
- has a proven performance record
and a good
understanding of job requirements
- has low need for continual
social interaction
with 'the gang' at the office
- except for the occasional
emergency situation,
will not mix telework with child-care or elder-care responsibilities
The Right Home Office
Home offices should have the right environment, furniture and work tools. They
should also be quiet and ergonomically safe and sound.
The Right Boss
Good telemanagers are likely to be good managers in any situation. They possess
effective supervisory skills and trust their employees to be professional in their
work. They tend to evaluate performance by results rather than by the clock. They
are supportive of employee needs to balance work with personal life, and are
willing to provide the right tools for the job.
The Right Company
Most companies have at least some teleworkable functions; however, telework
is not
practical for every organization. Either the line of work is unsuitable, or they
have inflexible cultures and management styles.
COMMON TELEWORK MISCONCEPTIONS
- How do we know our staff is
working if
we can't see them?
- If we allow one person to
telework,
won't everyone want to do it?
- Doesn't telework cost too much?
- Telework will break up the team.
SUCCESSFUL TELEWORK
IS
BASED ON:
- common-sense and a custom fit
within
the organization
- a clear strategy with defined
objectives, and effective implementation and evaluation methods
- a telework policy, guidelines
and training program which address key criteria and administrative, financial,
legal, technical and human resource issues
HOW TO GET STARTED?
The City of Nepean offers a variety of programs and services
to support business. For details or to learn more about telework and whether it
makes sense for you and your company, please see contact information on the back
panel.
For more information on how the City of Nepean can help your business, contact:
Development Services
City of Nepean
Ben Franklin Place
101 CentrePointe Drive
Nepean, Ontario, K2G 5K7
Tel: 727-6626
Fax: 727-6694
e-mail: bizinfo@city.nepean.on.ca
For information and resources about telework in general, visit the Canadian
Telework Association online at http://www.ivc.ca
DOWNLOAD
TELEWORK BROCHURE
The following downloadable pdf file requires Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Download
brochure now!
|
