PORTFOLIOPORTFOLIOTeleworkingTeleworking

What are the effects of teleworking on employers and

their employees?

Javier BatlleJavier Batlle

Important aspectsImportant aspects• Area of Impact:Area of Impact: Business and Employment

• Stakeholders:Stakeholders:–Employers–Employees–Clients

• Portfolio view:Portfolio view: NeutralNeutral

Presentation of the IssuePresentation of the Issue• Teleworking Teleworking Rise in popularity in the last years.Rise in popularity in the last years.

• Why?:Why?:

– Comfort for employees Comfort for employees == greater productivity greater productivity– Less office space Less office space == less $ spent by company less $ spent by company

• However others are against because:However others are against because:

– Comfort = laziness Comfort = laziness = = less productivityless productivity– Workers on their own Workers on their own == lack of teamwork lack of teamwork– No internal communication No internal communication = = DISASTER DISASTER

BenefitsBenefits• To the employer:To the employer:

– “Approx. $2100 less per employee per year”– Because of:

• Less space = less rent• Less office material needed• Less money spent on light and water for offices

• To the employee:To the employee:– Better family-work balance. – Greater comfort while working.

DrawbacksDrawbacks• To the employer:To the employer:

– Other non-teleworkers aren't motivated.– No direct control over teleworkers.

• To the employee:To the employee:– Distractions at home may keep them away from

work.– Cost of purchasing and installing the necessary

equipment.– Security of data may be compromised at home.

Technologies usedTechnologies used• Video conferencing software and hardware:Video conferencing software and hardware:

– MicrophonesMicrophones– WebcamsWebcams– VDUVDU– SpeakersSpeakers– WiFi accessWiFi access– VOIP VOIP voice over IP software (e.g. Skype) voice over IP software (e.g. Skype)

Continuation…Continuation…• Technologies used to exchange and Technologies used to exchange and

manage data:manage data:

– Computing in the clouds software. (e.g. Google Docs)– WiFi connectivity– E-mail. (To send and receive information)– WAN. (Wide Area Network)

Computing in the Computing in the cloudsclouds

E-mailE-mail

Wide Area Wide Area NetworkNetwork

Some Statistics…Some Statistics…• Telework = Telework = “roughly a “roughly a 20%20% to to 30%30% drop in drop in

efficiency” efficiency”

• ““51%51% of teleworkers said that their of teleworkers said that their relationships were affected”relationships were affected”

• Savings of up to Savings of up to ““$2100$2100 per employee” for per employee” for companies.companies.

Possible solutionsPossible solutions• In order to have greater control over teleworkers:In order to have greater control over teleworkers:

– Set working hours which are monitored by certain Set working hours which are monitored by certain software which makes sure the worker completes his software which makes sure the worker completes his working hours.working hours.

– Set very strict checkpoints or deadlines for Set very strict checkpoints or deadlines for teleworkers to keep working efficiently. teleworkers to keep working efficiently.

– Set workplace rules to ensure that the place where Set workplace rules to ensure that the place where the employee has set his workstation allows him/her the employee has set his workstation allows him/her to concentrate on work. to concentrate on work.

– Any other suggestions?Any other suggestions?

Useful linksUseful links• Advantages of teleworking (Article):

– http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3495/is_1_45/ai_59283654

• Problems with teleworking (Article):– http://www.soumu.go.jp/joho_tsusin/top/telework-apec/manual-e05.html

• Guidelines/rules for teleworkers (BBC):– http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/working_lunch/3200905.stm

• “Telework = greater productivity” (Article):– http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/206975.stm