Telecommuting Makes for Greener Business February 9, 2010
Should Your Small Business Use Telecommuting?
Green is the New Black
Today’s buzz word is Green. Feels a bit like Seseame Street, doesn’t it. It’s true though…Green is everywhere. You can’t attend read about an IT conference, product rollout, or IPO without some discussion of the ‘Greeness’ of the organization or the product offering or what their carbon footprint is.
Is this a bad thing? Absolutely not….we’re finally becoming an environmentally concerned society. We finally moved from the tree-huggers of the 60’s and 70’s to real efforts by the masses.
The Remote Worker
So what can your small business do to go Green? Well, for starters you can utilize telecommuting. There are other things you can do, but if you want to go Green AND save money at the same time, there’s no better way than incorporating a telecommuting policy.
Let’s first look at some facts (these come from findings published in InformationWeek magazine):
- Automobiles account for about 20% of US greenhouse gas emissions
- 78% of US commuters are solo drivers
- Commuters idling in traffic waste 2.9 billion gallons of gasoline each year and spent 4.2 billion hours sitting in traffic in 2005 alone
- Traffic jams and congestion cost the US economy $78 billion in 2005 - up 500% from 1982
Now that we’ve laid nice groundwork on why fewer commuting employees is very Green - meaning great for the environment - let’s consider the business benefits in terms of tangible and intangible benefits to both the worker and organization.
- Reduced real estate lease and utility expenses
- Improved business continuity (a disaster - flood, fire, etc. - at the main office location doesn’t mean a total shutdown…remote employees are still functional)
- Reduced travel costs
- Increased productivity - up to 30% in recent studies
- Enhanced ability to attract and retain good talent
Summary
Offering telecommuting to your workforce can greatly reduce operating expenses while increasing employee quality of life (less driving time) and productivity, resulting in a much happier and healthier workforce. Studies have also shown that remote workers take far fewer sick days that onsite employees. I can personally attest to this - since I began working remotely over three years ago I’ve not taken one sick day. I’m rarely ever sick - but I’ve also remained healthier by staying away from the sick people that drag themselves into work when they shouldn’t.
Offering telecommuting for the right positions is just good business and is great for the employer-employee relationship. At the same time, it allows you to promote your business as a Green organization….it’s win/win.
