By Allan Maurer
WASHINGTON, DC—The Telework Exchange, a public-private partnership focused on showing the tangible value of telework, primarily to the Federal teleworker community, sees a “perfect storm” of rising gas prices, environmental concerns, and the need to recruit younger workers, aiding its mission, says Cindy Auten, general manager.
The six-person organization founded in 2005 is funded primarily by its industry members, mostly tech companies, says Auten. “We’re focused on building public-private sector discussion of telework,” she says.
Although the organization’s efforts focus on the federal government, its results translate to the private sector as well, says Auten.
It promotes the benefits of telework, which include “Getting cars off the roads, being environmentally sensitive, reducing urban traffic congestion, saving employees money, notes Auten.
Another benefit becoming increasing clear at the federal employee level but likely to seriously impact the private sector as well, is that baby boomers will be retiring in great numbers. Agencies or companies needing to replace experienced older workers with the best younger talent they can find face a generation that rates the option of telework as a the number one benefit, according to a Telework Exchange focus group study.
Its survey of generation Y, the 70 million people born between 1977 and 2002, say they “work to live” rather than “live to work.” They want flexible jobs that allow a balance between their professional and their personal lives, Auten points out. “They think differently about job choices when it’s not offered. They rank telework at the top of their priorities.”
They’re also mobile and like frequent assignment changes and they’re comfortable with the modern world’s digital tools. They use wikis, Google, Wikipedia, surfing, GPS, and text messaging regularly. They Google everything.
Although the federal government encourages telework, it does often require “a cultural shift” among managers, Auten notes. “There is a management learning curve. There is some management resistance. They think the employee is home washing the car. We encourage them to focus on the productivity of home workers.”
Telework centers that allow users to rent mini-office spaces that even include meeting rooms and other amenities may help some others chose the option over commuting, even if they prefer the more social nature of office work, Auten suggests.
The 2000 Federal mandate has not gained much momentum and a lot remains to be done, although some agencies are coming on board the telework wagon aggressively. “Some agencies are incorporating it in their mission,” Auten says.
The base realignment and closure move that has some people set to transfer from the DC area to Fort Meade, Maryland, would require a 16 mile commute that could take up to an hour and a half in the Potomac region, says Auten. A poll of workers showed that only 30 percent would move to Maryland. Since it’s not easy getting workers with the needed security clearances, offering telework is one way to keep them.
The Patent and Trademark Office, which needs to add 4,000 attorneys over the next few years, is leading the way in telework, says Auten. “Offering telework is a significant benefit to them in getting the best and brightest,” she adds.
The General Services Administration is also a leader, and says it wants 50 percent of its staff teleworking by 2010.
The Telework Exchange Web site offers a telework value calculator, a collaboration and discussion platform called “The Water Cooler,” and research, and other resources related to telework.
On the Web:www.teleworkexchange
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