CommuterPageBlog

WashPost Editorial Praises Telework

This morning's Washington Post Editorial (The Shortest Commute, August 9, 2008) about telework gives us a chance to chime in and provide some resources. The Post's Editorial Board says its good news that Virginia Governor Tim Kaine (D) announced an initiative to promote telework in his office and throughout the state government. It sets a good example for businesses to follow. Says the Post: "Teleworking isn't a cure-all for Virginia's transportation woes, but it's a low-cost way to reduce traffic and save gas."... and "there are also obvious environmental benefits."

We learn that 12 percent of Virginians telework at least once a week. With Washington's employment largely knowledge-based we should be able to do even better.

Here are some resources:

• Individuals should start here on our CommuterPage.com Telework page and then talk to their boss.
• Individuals can also go to Telework!VA's page for teleworkers.
• Companies located in Arlington can get information and assistance here at Arlington Transportation Partners. (Even if you're not in Arlington there's a lot of good information available to everyone.)
• Companies located in Virginia can also go to Telework!VA page for managers.
• There's some information at the regional Commuter Connections.
• And there's many links at our CommuterPage.com Telework Links and Resources page.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a Metro/biking commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria.

Best Companies to Work For Keep Teleworking Trend Going

Fortune recently released its 2008 list of 100 Best Companies to Work For.  An impressive 84 of these "best companies" allow teleworking for at least  20% of an employee's schedule.

Recalling an earlier post that I wrote on the correlation between increasing gas prices and telework, telecommuting is an increasing popular arrangement that benefits employers and employees.  Telework rewards employees with less commute time and stress as well as helps employers recruit and retain valuable talent. And for those companies in Virginia, Telework!VA, a program administered through the VA Department of Rail and Public Transportation, offers incentives to expand or introduce a formalized telework program. 

The Fortune list also highlighted companies with "unusual perks." Among those cited were Genentech and Google.  Genetech gives employees that commute via public transportation, bike, or walking a $4 daily subsidy.  Google gives $1,000 toward the purchase of a hybrid or electric car.  Creativity is flowing to attract more employees to environmentally friendly transit. 

What is your company doing to help lessen the DC commute tension?  How do you think employers can encourage employees to commute via public transit, walking, biking, or carpooling?

Carly Nider, Arlington Transportation Partners

Life outside the cubicle- Telework trends

A recent article in NetworkWorld writes that AT&T's merger with SBC Communications is now possibly affecting its long-established telework program.  The article states, "AT&T, a company that once was poster child for telecommuting, is downsizing its long-running telework program and requiring thousands of employees who work from their homes and other virtual offices to return to traditional AT&T office environments, according to sources."

If the downsizing occurs, it is going against recent telework trends.  Kristina Cowan, a blogger at Payscale.com, recently commented on work life increasingly happening outside of the cubicle.  She includes tips on learning how to adapt to telework and shares some sources such as The Wall Street Journal's "Good News for Professionals Who Want to Work at Home," which further reveal increasing positives for telework. Cowan also cites Mark Penn's new book, Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes, which acknowledges the increasing popularity for telework.  According to Penn, 4.2 millon Americans work from home, up 23 percent from 1990, and almost 100 percent since 1980.   

Decreased emissions and a happier, more productive workforce are among many other positives.  Sounds good to me.  I think that with increasing technology and recognition of its bottom-line effects on business, telework numbers will continue to increase.  What are your thoughts?

Carly Nider, Arlington Transportation Partners

Teleworking's New "Toy"

If you're like me, you'd like to telework, or telework more often, but you're concerned that you may not have access to all of your necessary files at your home office. A techno-geek friend of mine at Maitek recently introduced to me SyncToy, a software tool that allows you to keep up-to-date copies of important work files on both your work computer and a memory stick, which you can take home and use at your home computer.

With SyncToy you select the "Left Folder" and "Right Folder", or in the case of a teleworker, your work computer and the memory stick, respectively. On the Left Folder you check-off the folders from your work computer which you'd like copied to your memory stick. Run SyncToy at the end of the day for the first time and all your files will be copied to the memory stick. Pop-out it out and you're ready to telework the following day.

When you get back to your work computer, simply pop-in your memory stick and run SyncToy again and it ensures that the newest version of the files you edited on your telework day at home replace the older versions on your work computer. All your files are up-to-date.

And did I mention SyncToy is absolutely free?

I've used SyncToy for many telework days so far and it's working wonders. Now what will I do with all of that free time since I'm not commuting as much anymore?

by Paul DeMaio, BikeArlington

State of the Commute 2007 #2: Telework "Rising Dramatically" in D.C. Area

According to a just released survey of commuters from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG) the percentage of commuters teleworking in the Washington, D.C. area has jumped from 13% to 19% in just three years. Following up on our story of a couple days ago (D.C. Region's Drive Alone Rate Goes Down!, July 18, 2007) comes more good news from the Preliminary Draft Commuter Connections State of the Commuter 2007 Survey Technical Report prepared for the MWCOG's Commuter Connections program by LDA Consulting with CIC Research.

According to COG's July 18 press release (PDF) that accompanied the report, the third "State of the Commute" survey reveals that 19 percent of commuters in the region have teleworked, or performed their regular office duties from home in 2007 and that this is a significant change from 2004, when 13 percent of respondents said they teleworked. Other telework highlights from the survey:

• Telecommuters worked from home for an average of 1.5 days per week.
• 24 percent of those who did not telecommute said they would choose to do so if employers were to give them the opportunity.
• 40 percent of those who do work from home said their employer offer formal programs - compared to 32 percent in 2004 and 27 percent in 2001.
• 16 percent of respondents who worked for federal agencies teleworked, compared to 12 percent in 2004 and 7 percent in 2001.
• 21% of private/non-profit employers teleworked compared to 15% in 2004
• Only 7% of State and local agency employees teleworked as compared to 6% in 2004.

The amazing number is that those 24 percent of non-teleworkers who wish they could represent 570,000 people. Imagine if they all telecommuted 1.5 days a week too?

Why are more people doing this? Our guess would be technology has allowed more and more people to do so and that more and more employers are getting comfortable with this over time. Other theories?

For more information on telework visit these resources:

• For employers
• For Individuals

We promise to bring you more information from the 100+ page State of the Commute 2007 survey over the coming weeks.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a biking/Metro commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria

WashPost's Car Guy Says We Should Telework More to Cut Down on Driving

From time to time we've shared Washington Post car columnist Warren Brown's responsible take on things and in today's column (To Save the World, Start With a Major Hot-Air Source, July 8, 2007) he comes back to a theme he's championed before (Shouldn't Everyone Pitch In?, April 2, 2007, CommuterPageBlog). In discussing the recent passage of a bill that demands increased fuel economy from automobile manufacturers (which he likes) Mr. Brown asks why we don't demand a single contribution from American consumers for energy conservation too.

He shares that according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 50 million of the the 132 million employed Americans work in jobs that can be done without driving to the office and asks why we can't ask those employees to work a day or so a week from home? He notes that in Washington, where so many of us are employed producing words, there's even more of us that can do this kind of thing. Good for Warren Brown.

If you're an employer here's some great information from Arlington Transportation Partners on how to start a telework program at your office. If you're an individual and want to learn how to bring this up at the office visit our Telework page.

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Chris Hamilton is the Commuter Services Chief for Arlington County, manager of CommuterPageBlog and a biking/Metro commuter from Rosemont in Alexandria

Telework - the new summer trend

Increasing gas prices and unbearable congestion is making many employers rethink their business models.  A recent article on CNN.com, "Gas prices drive workers- and bosses- to telecommute," explores how high commuting costs are getting employers to consider allowing their employees to telework at least one day per week.  The article shares the experience of John Thorner of the National Recreation and Park Association.  Describing his organization's situation, Thorner states, "The 70 people in our office drive an average of 30 miles a day.  We did the math and figures that by having the employees not commute on days a week, we would be saving 100 gallons a week."   Those saved gallons undoubtedly go back into each employee's pocket, increase employee morale, and tangibly positively effect the environment.  It's a win-win situation.

And it gets better.  Telework!VA, a program administered through the VA Department of Rail and Public Transportation, offers incentives for Virginia businesses to expand or introduce a formalized telework program.  Details about the program, application process, and other requirements are listed online at TeleworkVa.org.

Hopefully, the increased interest in telework won't be a trend that comes with increasing gas prices, but an increasingly accepted program that benefits employers, employees, and the environment.  Those gallons really do add up and when saved, can make a significant impact.

Carly Nider,  Arlington Transportation Partners

Tysons Corner - What a Mess

Two good articles in this weekend's Washington Post are must reads if you live, work or travel through the Tysons Corner area. Alec MacGillis writes a chilling in-depth article (Woe Unto Tysons Commuters, January 27, 2007; Washington Post) about the coming traffic nightmare that the already traffic-chocked nation's 12-largest business district is in for because of a convergence of a number of huge construction projects over the next few years. Today, Dr. Gridlock provides additional information in his Sunday Column (5-Year Tysons Nightmare Starts Soon, January 28, 2007; Washington Post). Mr. MacGillis discusses some of the traffic reduction measures that the State, Fairfax County and others will try to employ to help alleviate the coming onslaught but he doesn't provide much evidence for hope. If you do live or work in Tysons, start planning now to get into a car/vanpool or look into telework or even COG's new Live Near Your Work program. Don't expect that the problem is going to be solved for you. This problem's so big you're going to need to take matters into your own hands. Good luck.