Telecommute
If you have a long or gridlocked rush hour commute, consider working from home. Telecommuting just one day a week could save you significant time, gas, stress, and money. Most companies have some form of telecommute program. Check with your company to find out your options!
Your Impact
Action Steps & Tips
Introduction
Telecommuting is a popular option for some employees who live far away from work or want to avoid rush hour traffic commutes. By working from home and making use of the telephone, email, and internet, many employees are able to communicate with the main office and work effectively without making the trip to work. Telecommuting is a great way to reduce stress and free up some extra time!
It also helps reduce energy use and climate emissions. In fact, a study by the Consumer Electronics Association found that using electronics to telecommute can save up to 14 billion kilowatt-hours of energy each year. This is equal to the energy needed to power 1 million US households annually.
Telecommuting is not an option for everyone, it depends on the type of work you do and your company’s policies. However, it’s becoming more popular. In 2015, approximately 60% of companies had some form of telecommuting program. Read on to learn more about telecommuting and see if it’s right for you.
1Check out your company’s telecommuting policy
Benefits of telecommuting. Here are some benefits you can mention when talking with your manager:
- Retain top talent through more flexible work options
- Increase employee morale by offering flexible options that help reduce commute stress and provide other positive benefits
- Giving employees the option to telecommute when feeling under the weather helps to keep other employees healthy and saves the company money
- Significantly reduce company expenses—telecommuting employees save the company money and can help meet company sustainability goals
Some of the top companies in the U.S., including Dell, Xerox, and Aetna, have substantial telecommute programs. All three companies report that employees who participate in telecommuting programs “appear to be more engaged, productive and happy at work”. Research backs this up and shows that employees who are able to work remotely are happier with their jobs, feel less work stress, and show improved performance. People who frequently work from home show loyalty to their jobs, resulting in higher employee retention rates.
Components of a good telecommute policy:
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Clear company policies and guidelines for telecommuting
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Company-provided teleconferencing service, laptop or other equipment needed for effectively working at home
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Assessment program where managers and employees can determine whether this is a good fit for the employee and their work responsibilities
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Education and training for telecommuting employees to learn how to communicate and collaborate with other employees, and how to manage time effectively working from home
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IT support and review of programs to ensure security for all data and work performed at home
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Good structure for regular communications and check-ins with managers and team members
Talk with your manager to see if telecommuting is a possibility for your position. It might be a win-win-win: good for you, good for the company, and good for the climate!
2Get set up & start telecommuting!
Nearly 2.8 million employees in the U.S. consider home their primary place of work, so you’re not alone! Before getting started, you need to get set up with everything you need to be effective working at home. Here are a few tips:
Choose the days. First, work with your manager to determine which days you can work from home. Depending on your position, this may be only one or two days/week, or it could be full time. Studies have found that employees that telecommute two days a week are the most satisfied. Two days provides time to work from home as well as the benefit of being on site part of the time.
Set up your home space. Next, find a good location for your home workspace where you can work effectively. Make sure that you have everything you need to communicate with the office while you’re at home. Teleconferencing, real-time chat, email, and other communication tools are all good options. Ask your company for information on which methods they prefer and for training on various communication options.
Check security. Work with the IT department to make sure your home network and workspace meets all IT and security requirements for your company.
Schedule communications. Finally, work with your manager on a schedule for communications, check-ins, and deadlines for your work.
Then get to work and enjoy! Think of ways to spend the extra time you would have been commuting— extra time with family, time for errands, extra time for a workout…the possibilities are endless! In addition to extra time, you will also have extra money from avoided fuel and maintenance costs for your vehicle. The calculator above will give you an estimate of your annual cost savings.
Thank your boss. Let your manager know how much you appreciate the flexibility, savings, and other benefits of telecommuting. Positive feedback from you and your coworkers may encourage your employer to expand their telecommute program!
Extra credit! Reduce business air miles
Telecommuting or teleconferencing can also be used to reduce business trips. Airline miles are a huge expense and a large portion of many companies' carbon emissions. The world has become smaller and teams now often stretch across countries or continents. Although face-to-face meetings are sometimes important, business today can often be done by video and teleconferencing.
The free version of Zoom and Skype will often be sufficient for most meetings. For businesses that need extra features, there are more options available for a bit more cost. Talk with your company about using these options to lower your impact and save your company time and money. With any luck, instead of waiting in security lines at the airport you can take your next business meeting from the comfort of home.