Telecommuting
Work smarter … at home

By Angela Mihm Nigro

As Americans bemoan foreign oil dependence and await the next green breakthrough, we’re overlooking an obvious strategy: going green by working from home.
In fact, 40 percent of employees have jobs that could be teleworked, but a mere 15 percent actually do, state authors Kate Lister and Tom Harnish, Undress for Success: The Naked Truth About Working From Home.
Lister and Harnish estimate that at its full potential, telework would reduce Gulf oil imports by as much as 80 percent, or $43 billion at the pump, and slash carbon dioxide emissions by 107 million tons. That’s going green and saving green.

Getting started
In considering a telework policy, Brian Blahnik, senior human resources consultant, Kiesling, encourages companies to “determine the business reasons for telework.” A thorough exploration of the policy’s objective will ensure appropriate implementation, he explains. Not surprisingly, employees view telework as a benefit, with two-thirds reporting that they
want to telework and 36 percent would choose it over a pay raise, according to Lister. Short on cash for bonuses? Reward your top employees with a telework option.
Companies also benefit by offering 24/7 customer service staffed with employees working alternative hours, reducing overhead and expanding the talent pool by reducing geographical barriers.
Plus, companies save on productivity. Lister notes that 76 percent of employees who call in sick aren’t; they are dealing with personal issues.
Telework allows employees to work around personal needs without losing an entire day, and that saves employers money; Lister reports that unscheduled absences cost about $1,800 per employee each year.
Before implementing telework, Blahnik encourages a trial run within a department to address any issues. Additionally, he says, telework shouldn’t be a guarantee, but dependent on the job function and individual performance.

Don’t forget about me
While some managers might think “out of sight, out of mind,” today’s technology makes staying connected a breeze. Sonic Foundry, Madison, has been creating rich media webcasting and knowledge management solutions for over 10 years through their patented webcasting platform, MediaSite.
“MediaSite automates the capture, management delivery and search of lectures, online trainings and briefings,” explains Erica
St. Angel, marketing vice president, Sonic Foundry.
The result is a dynamic medium that allows organizations to reach its people anytime, anywhere. Files, whether a two-hour lecture or a three-minute update, are delivered live or accessed on-demand. Managers can track who watched and for how long, plus the software can be tied to polls and quizzes making it ideal for employee input and tracking knowledge retention.
An inclusive option Telework also levels the playing field for individuals with a disability; one Wisconsin organization helps such individuals purchase the necessary equipment to telework.
Through its telework loan program, Access to Independence, a nonprofit organization, allows a person with a disability to obtain a loan ranging from $500 to $50,000 for the equipment, training and home modifications for telework, explain Valerie Brown, information and referral coordinator.
With green benefits from increasing the bottom line (both yours and your employees) to helping the planet, telework offers sound solutions.
Now the question isn’t why do it? The question is: Why aren’t you? ■