Can working from home help fix our transportation headaches? |
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Can working from home help fix our transportation headaches?
Officials from the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council are appearing at a meeting of the West Sound Technology Association tonight to discuss the findings of a 15-month study that examined workers from Microsoft and other companies who used technology to work from home and reduce commuting. Organizers say the study dispels myths and shows that increased telework is a viable alternative to expanding the capacity of roads and transit systems.
"The hope here is to save billions in transportation costs that could otherwise be applied to more pressing needs like education, the environment or just plain savings," said Ed Stern, a Poulsbo, Wash., councilmember and a policy adviser to the project. "The study proves that our existing infrastructure is more than adequate to move people if we apply intelligence to who moves where, when, in conjunction with their jobs."
A draft of the study, presented to the state Legislature last year, is available here: PDF, 60 pages.
One of the myths about telework is that it's an either-or proposition, Stern said. For example, people in the study needed to work only 10 percent of the time from home, or one day every two weeks. That overcame one of the most common objections to telework, concern from employees about being isolated from their colleagues, or from key meetings at the office.
In fact, the top finding from the study was "extreme worker satisfaction" with telework, Stern said. "Their morale went up, they enjoyed their work more, and their productivity went up."
Managers also were surprisingly satisfied with the outcome, according to surveys conducted as part of the study. Workers used commonly available technologies such as email and the phone, and occasionally video-conferencing. The study showed that regional telework centers weren't a good option, leaning instead toward having people work from their homes.
The group wants the state work with businesses to get more employees teleworking. The meeting tonight is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Poulsbo Library Community Room, 700 NE Lincoln Road, Poulsbo, WA, 98370. Details here.
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