Support growing for remote working

Stephen Withers
Wednesday, 11 March 2009 12:21

IT Industry - Market

Despite generally strong support for remote working among employees and employers, a new survey suggests the practice isn't catching on as strongly as it might.

A survey commissioned by Microsoft looked at support for remote working for information workers in 25 midsized US cities and found adoption lags employee preferences.

Remote working can be cheaper for employers as it allows smaller premises, reduced insurance and utility costs and other savings.

Employees are largely attracted by the opportunity to reduce or practically eliminate the time, cost and inconvenience of commuting.

Weather is an important part of that, and remote working is especially favoured during the winter in most cities - the exceptions being Las Vegas, Nevada, and West Palm Beach, Florida, where it is favoured during the summer months.

Improved productivity thanks to fewer interruptions was also cited by employees.

Yet the survey found only 40 percent of employers have a formal remote-working policy, despite broad support for the practice. The standout was Buffalo, New York, where 68 percent of companies have such policies.

And earlier suspicions that people working at home are slacking off (or bludging or skiving, depending on which part of the English-speaking world you're from) have faded, with employers, managers and co-workers supporting such programs.

Which are the top ten midsized US cities for remote working? Find out on page 2.