Telework
Teleworking, also known as telecommuting or work from home, is an innovative business and commuting solution that provides employers flexibility by allowing employees to perform their business duties outside the traditional office for one to five days per week. On telework days, employees work from home, a satellite office, or one of 19 regional telework centers.
Telework is becoming an increasingly popular option for many employees and employers. According to the 2007 "State of the Commute" survey, 19% of the commuters in the region have teleworked or performed their regular office duties from home. All of these employees reap the rewards of not having to spend two to three hours commuting every day, leaving more time for family and personal activities.
You may already offer telework on an informal, case-by-case basis, so formalizing and expanding your program is easy. If you're ready to explore the telework option for your business, help is available.
What are the benefits of a telework program?
Telework is an effective tool for businesses needing a competitive edge. By improving productivity and cutting overhead costs, telework can help maximize profits and allow an organization to expand and prosper in the long run. Business benefits include:
- Strengthened employee recruitment and retention
- Reduced absenteeism, sick leave, and late arrivals
- Increased employee productivity
- Increased employee satisfaction and morale
- Reduced costs for office space and parking
- Expanded geographic access to skilled workers
- Enhanced public recognition as an innovative business and as a good corporate citizen
- Reduced traffic congestion and air pollution
How Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) can help:
ATP makes it easy and convenient for you to establish and administer a telework program by providing the following services:
- Providing information on telework programs and answering any questions
- Explaining implementation choices
- Helping you design the best telework program for your needs
- Sponsoring a workshop or seminar to explain telework to managers and staff
- Acting as a liaison to other teleworking resources
- Providing case studies
How can I encourage employee participation?
There are numerous ways to get the word out and encourage employee participation in a telework program including the following actions:
- Providing financial incentives to your employees by helping them set up a home office or by paying for their work station at a telework center
- Setting up a formal telework policy
- Providing onsite training for managers and employees to help them with issues such as:
- Managing their productivity while teleworking
- Maintaining communications with their manager, co-workers, and clients while teleworking
- Sending out e-mail notifications and reminders
- Displaying posters and flyers in high-traffic areas of your office
- Including information packets with paychecks
- Including an article in your company newsletter
- Providing information on your company's intranet
- Including information in your new-hire packets
Telework!VA
There is a program that allows companies to receive subsides from the Commonwealth of Virginia to pay for telework programs. Launched by the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation, Telework!VA is designed to increase the number of people teleworking in Northern Virginia and therefore reduce traffic congestion in the area.
This two-year pilot program reimburses participating companies up to $3,500 for each employee (up to $35,000 total) who teleworks at least eight days a month. The money covers the cost to lease equipment such as computers or fax machines needed to equip home offices. In addition, the program covers technical assistance costs, consultants' fees, and usage fees at local telework centers. Telework!VA is offered to companies and non-profit 501(c) organizations in Northern Virginia that have 20 or more employees.
Complete details of the Telework!VA program, including an application form, are available online at TeleworkVA.org. Funding for the Telework!VA program is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Metropolitan Washington Telework Centers
There are 19 telework centers in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. For a listing of regional telework centers and for more detailed information visit wmtc.org or commuterconnections.org. The centers offer a variety of work settings (e.g., cubicles, shared work stations, and private offices), computer and telecommunications equipment, and support. Other services such as photocopying, faxing, Internet access, and videoconferencing are also available. The Telework Centers offer a range of competitively priced work options.
For more information, contact Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) at 703.247.9299 (TDD: 711), solutions@transpartners.com, or request ATP's services by filling out this form.