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Managing Teleworkers

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Telework management: resources for managing staff who telework

Telework is experiencing a resurgence and is moving from a peripheral activity to mainstream in many organizations. The re-emergence of teleworking can be attributed to the confluence of global drivers - telecommunications innovations, e-learning, pandemics, economic downturn, traffic congestion, pollution control, demands of employees, terrorism, workforce globalization, workforce mobility, changing demographics and quality of worklife movement. These drivers together will create a new surge in teleworking and the need for managers to learn how to manage teleworkers. The management of teleworkers will emerge as the new learning edge and source of competitive advantage for many managers.

Definition of Teleworking

Utilizing information and communications technologies to free staff from traditional office locations and enable them to work elsewhere.

It can include staff who are:

  • Home-based (either full-time or part-time, regularly or on an 'as needs' basis)

  • Mobile teleworkers (who spend at least 10 hours per week working away from their usual workplace)

  • Day extenders (who usually work in a workplace and occasionally work from home - typically on the week-end or after work)

  • Home-based self employed.

The Telework Drivers

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Telework Developments

RICHMOND TIMES DISPATCH
Published: June 11, 2009

Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine ...calling for further reductions in energy consumption and efficiency in state government operations...

A "Statewide Telework Day" on Aug. 3, during which directors of agencies are encouraged to allow as many state employees possible to work from home to save the energy of commuting.

Managing teleworkers - why telework?

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Telework Management - Tips from Dr. Boyett

These tidbits give insights into the management of teleworkers. Dr.Boyett argues that the office is a "state of mind" and that telework forces us to engage in the proper management practices that we should be using in the office workplace. He discusses telework and the learning organization and the need to find ways for teleworkers to access the informal learning and communication that occurs around the "water cooler". His discussion extends to the environment support and technology support for teleworkers.
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Dr. Boyett on technology and teleworking



In the past we've said, 'You need to conform to technology'.

The future is to say, 'The technology should be working for me, the technology should conform to my needs. Why should I have to conform to technology's needs?'

How to manage telework - guides

Introduction to Managing Virtual teams
This document suggests some ways in which existing processes could be improved to better support and manage a 'distributed', flexible work force. Managers of teleworkers should aim to make telework arrangements as normal
as possible.
A Quick Start Guide for Implementing Telework
10 key steps for developing sustainable teleworking.
A Guide to Telework in the US Federal Government
This guide is intended to help Federal managers and employees understand how to make telework a routine part of doing business, as well as how to integrate telework into emergency planning.
Common myths about telework
These myths are described and explained in terms of supervisor's and manager's experience. Experience shows that these assertions are in fact myths and in some cases excuses for not taking action on the telework opportunity.

Telework - a little humour goes a long way!

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News from Telework Australia

World Telework news via Telework Australia. Courtesy of Webmaster, Bevis England.
Rise of the telecommuters - The Japan Times
The number of telecommuters in Japan jumped during fiscal 2008, according to a survey by the transport ministry. Nearly 10 million people telecommuted for eight or more hours per week at the end of last March, up five percentage points from three years earlier, to comprise roughly 15 percent of all workers in Japan. With 46 percent of the workforce telecommuting fewer than eight hours per week, Japan is poised for a potential revolution in the workplace.
Telework experiments can breed acceptance, observers say Government Executive
A new report concluded that 78 percent of participants in an event designed to encourage telework in Virginia said they did not encounter any problems during the experience.
Agencies gradually embrace telework - Federal Computer Week
The number of [US] federal employees who telework is increasing, with 5.24 percent of all federal employees working away from their offices in 2008, according to a new report.
Teleworking: a challenge and an opportunity - Fierce Telecom
Being a full-time teleworker, it's good to see that the FCC is now turning its attention to this topic as part of the broadband plan it will submit to Congress in February.
Teleworking Catching on in South Florida - Sys-Con Media
What began as a pilot program for Western Union's Sunrise office last year is now gaining more steam at other businesses across South Florida. Teleworking, or telecommuting, is the ability to work from home or satellite office one or more days a week. Western Union Human Resources director Sara Baker said their telework program began with 15 percent of their 180 employees, and the results were better than expected.
Telework speeds security-clearance process - Federal Computer Week
Although more than 100,000 federal employees teleworked in 2008, the greatest barrier to telework's adoption is resistance from managers, Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry said at a telework conference today.
Lawyers no longer chained to an office - Lawyers Weekly
Communications technology, specifically the advent of the Internet, which brought comprehensive legal research tools online, e-mail communications, online social networking, telephone and video conferencing, are increasingly shifting what it means to be "present" as a member of Canada's practising Bar.

Teleworking - resource links

Virginia Govenor Kaine calls for further reductions in state energy use
Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine today issued a wide-ranging executive order calling for further reductions in energy consumption and efficiency in state government operations... the governor proposes:
A "Statewide Telework Day" on Aug. 3, during which directors of agencies are encouraged to allow as many state employees possible to work from home to save the energy of commuting.
Status of Telework in the Federal Government (US) - December 2008
This Report to Congress (based on 2007) provides insight into some of the more innovative telework programs, highlighting accomplishments at Federal agencies and at sub-agencies as well. These examples show the power of integrating telework into the regular business of an organization, and provide insight into best practices that have brought tangible results.
Telework Australia - Maximising the benefits of flexible work location
Strategies ,resources and challenges in managing teleworking. Ways to manage telework effectively.
Telework Exchange - a public-private partnership for removing telework gridlock
Provides news, articles, resources and best practice case studies on managing telework.

Telework in the Government (US)

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Telework - Bing News

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Featured Lenses - Online Learning for Teleworkers

Online learning resources for teleworking

Online learning is another enabler of teleworking. Also the implementation of teleworking can draw extensively from the experiences of those who have introduced e-learning to their organizations.
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ronpass

Ron here from Brisbane, Australia. I am the author of Small Business Odyssey, a blog about .

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