Current trends Telecommuting

1 current trends

1.1 virtualization
1.2 u.s. federal government
1.3 centers
1.4 remote office centers
1.5 information security teleworkers
1.6 other countries

current trends
virtualization

businesses provide teleworkers access corporate in-house applications, accessible remote device such tablet or laptop. these devices gaining popularity in workforce come different underlying operating systems , therefore variety compatibility issues. however, use of desktop virtualization, remote desktop virtualization, legacy application or operating system can accessed mobile device, device primary used display unit while processing performed on company s internal server.

u.s. federal government

if federal employees eligible telework full-time so, federal government realize $13.9 billion savings in commuting costs annually , eliminate 21.5 billion pounds (9,800,000 t; 9,600,000 long tons) of pollutants environment each year. events in 2007 have pushed telework forefront critical measurement u.s. federal government. telework relates continuity of operations (coop) , national pandemic preparedness planning, reducing dependence on foreign oil , burden of rising gas prices, defense base closure , realignment commission (brac), , focus on recruitment , retention. during keynote address @ september 12, 2007 telework exchange town hall meeting, lurita doan, @ time administrator general services administration, announced aggressive commitment goal increase agency telework participation. challenge enable 50 percent of eligible agency employees telework 1 or more days per week 2010. of 2007, 10 percent of eligible gsa employees telework, compared 4.2 percent overall federal workforce. goals increase participation 20 percent end of 2008, 40 percent end of 2009, , 50 percent 2010.

a 2007 study of national science foundation employees indicated approximately one-third participated in telework regularly, characterized staff satisfaction program, , noted savings in employee time , greenhouse-gas emissions result of telework. rep. sarbanes (d-md) introduced telework improvements act of 2009 in march 2009. co-sponsors of bill included reps. connolly (d-va), wolf (r-va), , capito (r-wv). bill requires each executive agency establish policy under employees may authorized telework maximum extent possible without diminishing employee performance or agency operations. @ same time in u.s. senate, sen. akaka (d-hi) introduced companion bill, along sens. landrieu (d-la) , voinovich (r-oh).

on may 24, 2010, senate passed telework enhancement act (s. 707) sponsored sens. daniel akaka (d-hawaii) , george voinovich (r-ohio). bill grants federal employees eligibility telework , requires federal agencies establish telework policies , identify telework managers. on july 14, 2010, house passed telework improvements act of 2010 (h.r. 1722) vote of 290-131. u.s. senate passed final version of legislation unanimous consent on september 29, 2010 , house passed bipartisan vote of 254-152 on november 18, 2010. on december 9, 2010 president obama signed h.r. 1722, telework enhancement act of 2010, law. telework enhancement act of 2012 provided framework u.s. agencies offer teleworking viable option employees. increasing number of employees telework, telework enhancement act has 3 main objectives. (1) improve continuity of operations, (2) promote management effectiveness , (3) enhance work-life balance.

the 2012 status telework in federal government features teleworking highlights past 18 months goals improving teleworking in future. reports finding 87 agencies participating in data cell had established telework policies , 73 percent of policies met telework act requirements. more 684,000 federal employees deemed eligible telework, represents approximately 32 percent of federal employees. more 144,000 federal employees had written teleworking agreements agencies. 27 percent of teleworkers worked remotely 3 or more days per week. in addition findings, reports examine teleworking @ department of defense. according report, there more 793,000 employees in dod , of employees, 134,477 deemed eligible teleworking. overall, federal government seems have embraced teleworking , attempting create more remote working opportunities employees. in closing, report listed several ways government make more jobs available through telework. suggestions include using telework tool retain employees @ or near retirement age , using telework expand hiring of highly trained disabled veterans.

centers

telework centers offices set close majority of people might otherwise drive or take public transit. feature full complement of office equipment , high-speed internet connection maximum productivity. feature support staff, including receptionists or administrators. example, number of telework centers have been set around washington metropolitan area: 7 in maryland, 8 in virginia, 3 in washington, d.c. , 1 in west virginia. telework centers allow people reduce commute yet still work in traditional office setting. telework centers set individual companies while others established independent organizations use many organizations. telework centers attractive people not have space or inclination work home. offer employers ability maintain more formal structure workforce.

these work arrangements more become more popular current trends towards greater customization of services , virtual organizing. distributed work offers great potential firms reduce costs, enhance competitive advantage , agility, access greater variety of scarce talents, , improve employee flexibility, effectiveness , productivity. has gained in popularity in west, particularly in europe. while increasing in importance, distributed work has not yet gained widespread acceptance in asia.

remote office centers

remote office centers (rocs) distributed centers leasing offices individuals multiple companies. remote office center provides professional grade network access, phone system, security system, mail stop , optional services additional costs. rocs located in areas near people live throughout population centers, workers not have commute more couple of miles. telecommuter works in real office accesses company network across internet using vpn in traditional telecommuting.

this type of arrangement not share in benefits of home-based telecommuting, can address needs of employees unable or unwilling work home.

information security teleworkers

hackers make living stealing information unsecured computers , network connections, teleworker open door organization’s sensitive data. security , privacy have become increasingly rare commodities these days ability of hackers stay 1 step ahead of every security measure technicians can create. security breaches significant enough threat in standard office environment; however, when organization has employees working home or on go, these risks become greater.

it vital organizations convey teleworkers data protection , information security important organization, , employees’ actions make difference in achieving overall goal of protection of sensitive data. despite increased awareness , training on security issues, many employees not take necessary precautions deterring security risks.

real security begins security policy. information security professional must ensure security policy covers telecommuting/teleworking , may telework, services available teleworkers, information restrictions, identification/authentication/authorization, equipment , software specifications, integrity , confidentiality, maintenance guidelines, , robust user education.

other countries

according article new york times, telecommuting takes 2.6 percent of american workforce not including remote works drivers. article mentions experiment done nicholas bloom. nicholas bloom economics professor stanford university. during experiment, 250 workers picked randomly ctrip work either @ home or @ office. ctrip large china travel agency. result showed telecommuted worked longer hours worked @ office. telecommuters more productive , happier. ctrip saved around 2k telecommuting. although quitting rate decreased telecommuters, promotion rate decreased. many telecommuters asked in office @ end reasoning loneliness , desire promotion. kate lister, president of global workplace analytics, came conclusion workers prefer telecommuting , office work combined. telecommuting increases efficiency , workers’ flexibility. america has increasing trend of using teleworking due strong economics , multimedia services. among top 10 telecommuter countries, u.s ranked number one; however, developing countries china catching trend. article money.163.com states number of telecommuters in asia pacific region exceeds region america, europe, middle east , africa. asia pacific region has 37% telecommuters while others have 23-4%. chinese citizens favor combination of telecommuting , office work due reason disturbance @ work , increase in flexibility. not workers have chance telecommute. 1 of ethical issues behind telecommuting should have chance telecommute? 1 may have more chance work @ home because he/she has young children. other 1 may argue he/she has personal problems. favored workers combine telecommuting , office work. many think telecommuting once or twice week reasonable schedule. businesses favor suggestion because workers more satisfied , companies save money it.