Dispatch from Canada: Telecommuters embrace "cafe culture"

In this occasional series of dispatches from our Canadian editor Sheryl Smolkin, we explore areas of Canadian HR/Benefits information that would be of use to American readers.

Today's installment details how more and more Canadian teleworkers are making the home base a local coffee shop.

Read, "Café commuters blend coffee culture and telecommuting" here.

Tip of the Day

HR nonprofit firm Capital Associated Industries recently picked the brain of Brandon Dempsey, vice-president of Suite Commute, LLC, a company that aids employers in implementing telework programs. Dempsey, who is a speaker at an upcoming CAI training event on telework, laid out five mistakes employers often make with telework programs:
1. Lacking concrete policies.
2. Overinvesting in technology.
3. Failing to train managers.
4. Lacking an implementation strategy.
5. Overlooking a pilot program.

For more on do's and don'ts of telework, read these four recent EBN/Daily Diversion articles. (1,2,3,4)

Tip of the Day

A study by the Institute for Corporate Productivity reveals that 67% of companies anticipate an increased need for virtual teams in the near future to adapt to the greater number of employees that telework. See recent EBN coverage for more information about keeping your team connected virtually and managing an effective telework policy.

News You Can Use: Telework becoming even more popular

For more than two-thirds of employees, off-site work is common, states new research from Office Team. Within the next five years, 82% of managers polled think telework percentages will increase.

Twenty-two percent of those surveyed think that remote work will increase "greatly," while 60% see the percentage increasing "somewhat" and 18% see the percentage staying constant. No respondents predict a decrease in telework numbers.

"Rising fuel prices are causing people to look for alternatives to lengthy commutes, and working from home or at locations closer to home
are attractive options," said Dave Willmer, executive director of OfficeTeam. "Technology has also made it easier for employees to work
remotely when traveling for business."

The survey is based on telephone interviews with 150 senior executives from the largest companies in the United States.

In cases where employees request telecommuting or work-from-home arrangements, Willmer cautions that not every position is a fit. "For professionals whose jobs require a great deal of face time with colleagues or customers, working remotely might not be practical."

OfficeTeam suggests those who want to work off-site ask themselves the following questions before making the request:

-- Does my company already have a remote work policy? Review your employee manual or contact your human resources department to find out. If no policy exists, research how other companies like yours have established successful remote work arrangements for their staff.

-- What's in it for them? Managers will respond more favorably to your request if they know the arrangement will benefit the company and not just you personally. Will the arrangement save your firm money or increase productivity?

-- Have I thought through the details? Your supervisor will want to know key information, like why you are a good telework candidate, technology tools and upgrades you will need, and security measures you have in place at home or at your proposed remote work location to protect company information.

-- How self-motivated am I? If you are easily distracted or lack self- discipline, working off-site could be challenging.

-- How will I stay in touch? Think about how you intend to interact with colleagues to ensure projects stay on track. Also, offer to provide regular status updates so your manager knows your progress on assignments.

-- How will I stay visible? To avoid being overlooked for plum projects or promotions, maintain plenty of face time with your managers and colleagues. Schedule important meetings for your on-site work days.

-- How can I show the arrangement will work? Ask your supervisor if you can try telecommuting on a trial period, working remotely one or two days a week. Propose several meetings with your boss throughout the test period so you both can evaluate how the arrangement is working.

Survey Methodology

The national survey was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. The survey is based on telephone interviews with 150 randomly selected senior executives at the nation's 1,000 largest companies.