Two items that came to my attention today both relate to the general issue of “flexible” job arrangements for accommodating employees who want to maintain both quality of employment and quality of life.
At times, it seems that discussions of options such as job sharing and telecommuting are just a lot of talk, and that these options are not that practical for most employers and employees and therefore unlikely to increase significantly anytime soon.
I would differ. I think a number of factors are coming together that will accelerate use of these options.
One is the attitudes of the younger employees, for whom work-life balance is a major issue.
Another is the impact of technology, making people and data available at any time, anywhere.
A third is the increasing downside of physical commuting, including not only traffic, but now with rising gas prices, cost as well.
Today’s first item came to me in the form of an e-mail from a company whose service I recently started using, GoToMyPC.
This is a web-based remote access service that allows me to work on my office computer from any remote computer that has an Internet connection. Perfect service for telecommuting, so in marketing it they sent a “newsletter” including the following excellent pitch for telecommuting (using their service of course):
So You Want to Telework? Five Reasons Why Your Boss Should Let You
If you’re among the more than 38 percent of employees considering a job change this year (as reported by a recent Society for Human Resources survey), you may have more options than you think – especially if you’re looking for flexible hours or a shorter commute.
With the retention of top employees on the short list of corporate concerns in 2005, this may be the perfect time to approach your boss about teleworking rather than looking for another job. Regardless if your company is large or small, teleworking provides five immediate results your boss can see:
1. Increased Bottom Line: With office space at a premium, offsite employees who work at home reduce the need for more real estate and contribute to reduced overhead.
2. Reduced Absenteeism: Teleworking employees aren’t exposed to the contagious infections easily spread in an office environment, and they often work even when they are sick because they can easily take breaks as needed.
3. Increased Productivity: Employees who telework are typically 20 percent more productive than their office-bound counterparts because they are more focused and tend to work weekends and after hours.
4. Reduced Burn-Out: The daily grind and time commitment of getting ready for work and commuting is eliminated with teleworking, which allows employees more personal time.
5. Better Employee Accountability: When employees use a remote-access solution like GoToMyPC to access their work PCs, their bosses can track the number of hours they are logged on and working, which allays any concerns that they might not be working.
The second item is drive-time audio from the Public Radio International “Marketplace” program that I heard today on my evening commute.
Here’s the intro to the story:
New claims for unemployment benefits were up slightly last week. That word today from the Labor Department. Finding a job is one thing. Keeping it, and still having a life, is another. Some complain they work such long hours they don’t have time for family. Well, a couple of professional women have come up with a solution that works for them. From our work and family desk at Boston’s WGBH, Helen Palmer reports.
The story describes two women doing quite high level financial industry work on a job-sharing basis. One of the most interesting points is that they are now jobhunting — as a job sharing team with a proven track record. You want to hire one, you have to hire both.
Here’s the page with the link to the audio.
Sphere: Related ContentIf you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing.
Subscribe by RSS
Subscribe by Email
Comments
No comments yet.
Leave a comment