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All the comforts of Home – Telework
Pajamas and bunny slippers - while frowned upon as business attire, they are perfectly acceptable to wear while working from home! Teleworking helps save space on our roads by reducing commute trips and can also increase employee performance and job satisfaction, and expand a company's opportunities for recruiting and retaining employees.
I am interested in teleworking, how can I talk to my employer?
There are two keys to success when selling telecommuting to the top. The first is establishing telecommuting as a critical business issue. One company in Tennessee closed its facilities for 5 days due to bad weather conditions. The telecommuting champion took that opportunity to document the rather high 6 figure financial impact of the closings and demonstrated how telecommuting could help save money moving forward. In other words, find the hot button of senior management and push it. The second is forming partnerships with other areas of the organization to create a multi-dimensional team approach to telecommuting. This way telecommuting won't be viewed as another program, it will be viewed as a cross-organization business objective (courtesy of ITAC).
Am I the right candidate for teleworking?
Teleworking will change how you communicate with management, co-workers, and clients. Some issues to consider include:
Time management: Will you be distracted at home? Remember, teleworking should not be an alternative to childcare.
Communication with co-workers and customers: How can you be reached? Will you have phone calls transferred to your home line or will you check your business phone periodically throughout the day? Clients and co-workers should understand and feel comfortable about contacting you.
Home office set-up: Do you have available space? Will your employer provide a computer?
Social contact with co-workers: If you are a full-time teleworker, what will you miss not being in the office on a regular basis?
Workflow and project reporting: How will you report your productivity to management? Weekly reports?
Teleworking Resources
www.teleworktoolkit.com
This web site is a complete resource tool with sample policies, agreements, forms, checklists and links to other resources.
Commuter Challenge
Commuter Challenge has compiled case studies of Washington businesses implementing teleworking programs.
International Telework Council and Association (ITAC)
A not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing the growth and success of telework.
Telework Manual
Example of telework policies implemented at the Washington State Department of Transportation.
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