Study Shows Employers Are Deeply Skeptical About Telecommuting

A new study by Business 21 Publishing shows that companies are deeply skeptical about allowing employees to telecommute. Only 30% encourage it, while the rest are either opposed or allow it only for employees they really trust.

Springfield, PA (PRWEB) October 27, 2005

A new study by Business 21 Publishing shows that companies are deeply skeptical about allowing employees to telecommute. Only 30% encourage it, while the rest are either opposed or allow it only for employees they really trust.

Companies need to start thinking about their telecommuting policies immediately because it’s expected to explode in coming years. Experts say telecommuting will increase 60% by the year 2010. That’s right: the telecommuting workforce is predicted to grow from the current 24 million to 40 million in just five years.

As more and more employees start being offered flexible schedules and telecommuting opportunities by their companies, employers will see more and more existing and prospective employees demanding the same. This could have serious implications for both recruiting and retention. The time is now to determine:

1. How your company feels about telecommuting. In some industries and for certain job functions, letting people work at home is a no-brainer. In other circumstances, it’s not even an option. And then there’s a big gray zone in between, where telecommuting either works or doesn’t depending on company values.

2. What your policy toward telecommuting will be. Who will, or won't, be eligible? How will you justify offering it to one employee but not another?

When 120 HR executives were asked, "Should companies encourage telecommuting?" more than 4 in 10 said they didn't see much benefit and would trust only a minority of employees. Nearly a quarter of respondents indicated that telecommuting is a bad idea because it risks making good employees less productive.

To read the a complete summary of the study’s conclusions, as well as an in-depth article that discusses telecommuting pros and cons, and offers suggestions for how to make it work, go to http://www.b21pubs.com/hrintellcenter/Benefits/benefitsarticles/telecommuting-poll.asp

# # #