This month, HP followed in Yahoo!’s footsteps and tightened its telecommuting policies with CEO Meg Whitman saying, “During this critical turnaround hour, HP needs all hands on deck.”
The benefits of telecommuting are numerous and have been proven with data again and again (check out this infographic about telecommuiting), but these corporate decisions against flexible schedules and telecommuting continue to prevail.
Sean O’Brien, EVP of strategy and communications for PGi, a leader in collaboration and virtual meetings, explains how telecommuting can benefit companies, employees, and more:
“Telecommuting provides benefits to both employees and employers. For employees, using technology to connect with the office can save time and money by eliminating their daily commute. On the employer side, the Telework Research Network found nearly 60 percent of companies can realize savings through reduced office space and on-premise technology costs.
“Improvements in productivity are also common and some studies show teleworkers actually end up working longer hours than their in-office counterparts. While some may see this as an argument against telecommuting, many employees report the added flexibility that telecommuting provides outweighs the modest increase in hours.”
PGi shared a long list of statistics that quantify the benefits of telecommuthing in its ebook, The Ying and Yang of Telecommuting. Take a look at some of those stats below and see for yourself.
A company saves $11,000 per year for every telecommuter. (Telework Research Network)
72% of employers say telework has a high impact on retention. (Matrix Resources)
2 billion gallons of gas would be saved annually by a telecommuting workforce. (GovLoop (2012). Telework Calculator)
Since 2005, telecommuting has grown 73% across all sectors and a remarkable 474% in the U.S. federal government. (Telework Research Network (2012), Latest Telecommuting Statistics)
An estimated 40% of U.S. employees hold jobs that could be done at home. (Telework Research Network (2012), Latest Telecommuting Statistics)
86% of telecommuters say they are more productive in their home office. (Telework Research Network (2012), Latest Telecommuting Statistics)
Unscheduled absences cost $1,800 per employee per year. Companies with a telework program report 63% fewer unscheduled absences. (Telework Research Network (2012), Cost and Benefits: Advantages of Telecommuting for Companies)
Annually, employees can save up to $3,800 in gas costs and productivity loss by working from home just two days per week. (GovLoop (2012), Telework Calculator)
The average business would save up to $11,000 per employee per year. (Telework Research Network (2012), Latest Telecommuting Statistics)
59% of employees believe that telecommuting at least part time is the ideal work situation. (Hudson (2006): Home and Office – Workers Want it All)
60% of workers say flexibility is the most important work-life practice employers provide. (The Staff of the Corporate Executive Board (2009), The Increasing Call for Work-Life Balance)
80% of employees consider telework a job perk. (Telework Research Network (2012), Cost and Benefits: Advantages of Telecommuting for Companies)
2 billion gallons of gas would be saved annually by a U.S. telecommuting workforce. (GovLoop (2012), Telework Calculator)
Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Women on Business. She is a 30-year veteran of the marketing field and has authored a dozen books about marketing, branding, and social media, including the highly popular Ultimate Guide to Email Marketing, 30-Minute Social Media Marketing, Content Marketing for Dummies, Blogging All-in-One for Dummies and Kick-ass Copywriting in 10 Easy Steps. Susan’s marketing-related content can be found on Entrepreneur.com, Forbes.com, MSNBC.com, BusinessWeek.com, and more. Susan is President & CEO of KeySplash Creative, Inc., a marketing communications company. She has worked in corporate marketing roles and through client relationships with AT&T, HSBC, Citibank, Intuit, The New York Times, Cox Communications, and many more large and small companies around the world. Susan also speaks about marketing, branding and social media at events around the world and is frequently interviewed by television, online, radio, and print media organizations about these topics. She holds an MBA in Management and Strategy and a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and is a Certified Professional Career Coach (CPCC).
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