Telework Winning with Telework A Successful Business Strategy A Workplace Strategy Ensure Business Continuity Charlotte Weber Alternative Work Arrangement Specialist
What is Business Continuity? Developing procedures and actions that enable an organization to continue critical business functions during a crisis or a disrupting event Assisting employees in commuting in the event of a natural disaster or regional emergency
Goals of Business Continuity Plans Maintain critical operations Protect image, reputation, time to market, customer satisfaction Provide solutions that either eliminate trips to work, shift work hours, or use alternative transportation
Potential Disasters & Incidents Affecting Commuting Construction Widespread Illness/Flu Special Events Power Outages Gas Prices Weather Events Transit Strike Snow Storms Major Traffic Incident Hurricanes Tornados Terrorist Activities Earthquakes Protesters Police Activity Utility Work
SnowJam 2014: How was your organization affected? 2 ice storms in 3 weeks Workforces stranded on highways "The best thing you can do is stay inside." Lt. Dennis Moore, Union City Fire Department Consider the role of telework in your business continuity plan.
Telework is a Workplace Strategy Extends the workplace beyond the traditional office. A voluntary arrangement between employee and manager. Only appropriate when these four items are in place: Right job Right employee Right technology Manager approval
Telework is Not Always a full time arrangement A replacement for child care or dependent care Sending people home and never seeing or hearing from them again An employee entitlement Work-extension
Advantages of Offering Telework Increased Productivity (3-20%) Solutions for Disaster Recovery/Business Continuity Reduced absenteeism (2-4 days) Lowered overhead and real estate costs (10-90%) Offers a no-cost or lowcost initiative with high ROI
Impact of Telework in Metro Atlanta 1.4 million miles of vehicle travel eliminated each day. 700 tons of pollution kept out of the air we breathe each day. $150 million on gas and vehicle expenses saved each year. $10 million of savings in health-related costs each year. Calculate how much teleworking could save you: http://wallethub.com/telework-calculator/
Telework is the #1 Alternative for Atlanta Commuters Source: 2010 Center for Transportation and the Environment study conducted on behalf of the Georgia Dept. of Transportation
FORTUNE Magazine s 100 Best Companies to Work For In the 1980 s, only two offered compressed work weeks and only three offered telework. In 2014, 77 offer compressed work weeks and 85 offer telework. 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 1980 2014 CWW Telework
Commuting Affects Retention #1 reason for switching jobs = length of commute 1 Cost of employee turnover can be 150% of an employee s salary when considering 2 : Time interviewing, hiring and training a new worker Lost productivity while position unfilled 1. Center for Transportation and the Environment, 2006 2. PricewaterhouseCoopers, 2008
WorldatWork Study 2013 Shows Strong Adoption of Telework Among U.S. Employers % of Employers allowing the following frequencies of Telework Ad hoc telework (e.g. to meet a repair person, care for a sick child) (83%) Telework on a regular monthly basis (at least one day per month, but not full time) (56%) Telework on a regular weekly basis (at least one day per week, but not full time) (52%) Full-time telework (every regularly scheduled work day) (34%) % Employers Ad Hoc Monthly Weekly Full-time
Telework: Emerging Business Strategy Sources: The State of Telework in the US 2011 American Management Association Undress for Success State of Telecommuting: 2014 Pgi Report
Telework Disaster Preparedness Implementation Gain management support Identify essential functions/job assessment Develop lists of employees who could work from home or other locations Conduct cross training for crucial functions Locate alternative facilities Develop remote access to office network Test technology Develop telework policies Train employees and managers on telework procedures Establish a pilot program and monitor results Conduct an emergency drill
Lessons Learned Invest in technology Telecommunications infrastructure more robust Decentralized approach to business makes sense Use teleworking to reduce absenteeism Pre-planning is key to quick recovery Quick fixes do not always stand the test of time
Telework Program Implementation Steps Gain Management Commitment Select Telework Coordinator and a Steering Committee Develop Policies and Process Assess Costs and Savings Develop Technology Component Select Jobs and Participants Train Participants Evaluate and Expand
A Few of our Telework Successes
Expert Assistance from Georgia Commute Options Design and implementation of programs Policies and agreement development Sample materials, case studies and implementation kits Training sessions for managers and employees Program evaluation
Additional Bonuses Logging telework days at www.mycommuteoptions.com Accountability for telework/commute alternative days Those logging are entered into a drawing for monthly $25 gift cards Provides personal and company metrics on commute alternatives and $ saved Example email from Georgia Commute Options
Contact Information Charlotte Weber Alternative Work Arrangement Specialist 404-977-7181 telework@georgiacommuteoption.org