Friday, July 23, 2010

Benefits of Google Voice for Workshifters

Hi all! I was asked by the folks on the Workshifting blog to provide some content after I wrote my own post about virtual presence. Check out my blog post on their website and share your comments!

Friday, July 16, 2010

Quantifiable benefits of workshifting

Below is a brief summary of Citrix Online's excellent report of workshifting. What are your thoughts? Did any of the findings surprise you? Reaffirm what you're feeling and seeing in your workplace? I welcome your thoughts and feedback and hope that you'll make use of this report.



A summary report of the Citrix Online 2010 report:

In “TeleworkResearchNetwork.com (Kate Lister & Tom Harnish, 2010) Workshifting Benefits: The Bottom Line” the authors attempt to quantify the benefits of workshifting --working from anywhere-- for employers, employees, and the community. Workshifting is recently a new concept, formerly referred to as telecommuting or teleworking. It has increased by 74% from 2005 to 2008.

Why allow workshifting and who benefits?

Employer (quantifiable benefits)
  • Increased productivity
    • 27% more productive
      • less distractions
      • more effective time management
      • longer hours
    • If 50 employees were permitted to workshift at least 50% of the time, the company would see an increase in productivity of $288,176 per year.
  • Decreased real estate and related costs
    • Hard for the employer to scale down office offerings
      • less purchase costs (furniture, parking, supplies, security)
    • If 50 employees were permitted to workshift at least 50% of the time, the company would save an average of $151,846/year in electricity alone.
  • Decreased turnover
    • Reduce attrition by 25%; average cost of turnover = 138% of wage
      • Average wage = $32,136
    • 2/3rds of employees on this survey report that they would leave their current job to ease their commute
    • Projected annual savings to the company = $38,046/year
  • Decreased absenteeism
    • Average cost of an unscheduled absence = $310 per absence
    • Telework is the second most effective method of reducing absences Reduce the number of hours wasted in meetings
    • Able to handle personal appointments without losing time; able to work at home when sick and not infect others.
    • If 50 employees were permitted to workshift at least 50% of the time, the company would save an average of $56,700/year in reduced absenteeism.
Employer (non-quantifiable benefits)
  • Ensure continuity of operations
    • Snow and ice storm, H1N1 flu, major road construction - NO PROBLEM with workshifting
    • Sick family member that needs to be cared for - NO PROBLEM with workshifting
  • Base productivity on results; not time in the chair (performance based management)
TOTAL EMPLOYER BENEFITS
Half-time home-based workers

50

100

Productivity increased

$288,176

$576,351

Electricity savings

$151,846

$303,692

Absenteeism savings

$56,700

$113,400

Turnover savings

$38,046

$76,092

TOTAL SAVINGS

$534,768

$1,069,535




Employee
  • Use and spend less on gas
    • The average commute = 30 miles/day (a third of commuters have longer drives = 60 miles/day)
    • If an employee telecommuted at least 50% of the time, the employee would save an average of $362/year ($18,080 for 50 employees)
  • Incur less work related expenses
    • Parking, food, clothing
    • If an employee telecommuted at least 50% of the time, the employee would save an average of $3,841/year ($192,086 for 50 employees)
  • Get more time back in your life
    • Commutes
      • Low = 29 minutes
      • Average = 52 minutes
      • High = 79 minutes
    • Better work life balance, happier, and healthier individuals