Telework Day 99 newsrelease

Ottawa, Oct.21: This Oct 27, the Canadian Telework Association invites all Canadians to celebrate Canadian Telework Day with a conference they don't have to go to. That's because there is no physical gathering. To save fuel, time and our air, the only way to get to this event is to drive the information highway to the Canadian Telework Day Web Site at www.ivc.ca/td99.html

Telework Day is an Internet-based celebration of Canada's teleworkers (also known as telecommuters) and their employers. The objective is to raise awareness about the benefits of telework as a concept that pays large dividends to employers and their employees, and to increase the number of Canadian employers offering telework programs to their employees.

Canadian Telework Day coincides with the US-based Telework America Day and European Telework Week. Prime Minister Jean Chr�tien is one of the many well-wishers: "This special event will provide you with an excellent opportunity to recognize the contribution teleworkers make to the Canadian workforce."

Thanks to information technology, over one million Canadians already telework. They perform some or all of their work at remote locations, usually from home. In a nutshell, telework moves the work to the workers, not the reverse. Join some of Canada's best-known leaders as they celebrate Telework Day.

Among the many advantages of telework, it plays an increasingly valuable role in recruitment and retention. Underscoring this is Clint Dunford, Alberta's Minister of Human Resources and Employment who says: "Teleworking allows our knowledgeable workforce to compete in the global marketplace without geographical or time barriers."

Canadian workers place a high value on telework. Last year, EKOS Research found that some 30 per cent of Canadians would prefer telework to a raise in pay, and almost 40 per cent would quit their jobs if another employer offered them the same job, but allowed them to telework. That's important to remember considering a looming talent war as some 30 per cent of our workforce retires in the next 10 or so years.

Teleworkers have discovered how telework improves morale, productivity and work-life balance, while reducing absenteeism, stress and travel time. "Given that the average Canadian spends the equivalent of 6 working week a year traveling to and from work, telework allows Canadians to spend more time with their families or on other important parts of their lives." Says Canadian Telework Association President, Bob Fortier.

Telework also brings enormous business benefits. "Organizations that implement telework can typically save thousands in office accommodation costs, and improve productivity by some 30 per cent, which helps organizations accomplish more work and at a lower cost. This further decreases the need for new recruits and their corresponding office space. Telework can also reduce absenteeism by 10-20 per cent, or even more during emergencies caused by snow, ice storms, and strikes etc." says Canadian Telework Association President Bob Fortier.

Communities will also benefit by telework's proven ability to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. Telework can also improve community economic development, a fact recognized by federal Industry Minister John Manley: "By teleworking and by recognizing Telework Day, Canadians can demonstrate they are using Information Technology to compete and innovate in their daily lives."

FACT SHEET -- Canadian Telework Day

What will happen on Telework Day

The day will highlight positive impacts of telework (employees working from home) on Canada's workforce, environment, transport and economic development. This will include:

Expressions of support from Canadian political and business leaders;
A Calgary telework symposium with speakers such as Mayor Al Duerr, Alderman Jon Lord and former US Congressman Don Ritter;
News about the newly-formed Telework Association of Newfoundland;
A complimentary lunch-hour presentation on telework in Winnipeg;
The Canadian Telework Day Website winning "top site award: from CTV's WebMania;
A Telework Day announcement by Monster.ca dedicating a new telework section on their website;
An announcement by nationally recognized work-life experts Linda Duxbury and Chris Higgins of preliminary telework findings from one of their recent studies.

How can Canadians participate?

On October 27, join us in celebrating Canadian Telework Day by visiting the Canadian Telework Day web site at www.ivc.ca/td99.html. See how this new way of working holds the potential to fundamentally affect our economy, our cities, our air, our work and families, our transportation systems.

If you are an employee, join the many Canadian employees who commute a few meters to their home offices rather than the several kilometers they normally travel to their employer.
If you are an employer and already have a telework program, consider expanding it or fine-tuning it.
If you are a manager, consider letting some of your employees telework on Telework Day.
Tell us about interesting or unusual telework experiences, case studies or applications.

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Contact: Bob Fortier, President, Canadian Telework Association (613) 225-5588 bobf@ivc.ca