NEW U.S. TELEWORKERS GROW BY
NEARLY THREE MILLION

Innovative telework guide and new local initiatives announced on Telework America Day at first Washington Area Conference on Telework

WASHINGTON, D.C. – New teleworkers in the U.S. have increased by an impressive 2.8 million according to national research findings released today by the International Telework Association & Council (ITAC). The results were announced on ITAC's Telework America^TM Day, during the first Washington Area Conference on Telework. The conference was held to explore solutions to traffic congestion, air quality and attracting and retaining a skilled workforce through the use of telework.

The Telework America research survey, sponsored by AT&T, indicates that while more than half of the teleworkers surveyed have been working remotely for at least three years, 2.8 million are new teleworkers with one year or less experience in teleworking.

The research findings this year showed significant growth in the teleworker population by 20.6 percent over last year. However, it is important to note the differences between the studies in 1999 and 2000. The teleworker sample in 1999 included people who were regularly -- as well as occasionally -- employed and did some work at home, while this year the study delved deeper to focus on regularly employed teleworkers. Utilizing the growth rate found in the 2000 study, and applying it to the total number of teleworkers found in the 1999 study, the new findings imply a total of 23.6 million teleworkers nationwide.

The 2000 survey was based on a more rigorous definition of teleworking to be able to further study the potential impacts of working remotely including effects on employees, employers, the environment, and traffic congestion. This year's study found there were 16.5 million regularly employed teleworkers in the U.S. Results also showed an increasing desire to telework—a clear indication of a pent-up demand to telework -- which supports the projection in the study that estimates as many as 30 million teleworkers by the end of 2004.

Making a Business Case for Teleworking

When considering implementation of a telework program, many employers look for bottom line impact including productivity improvements, space savings and employee retention and/or recruiting.

Telework fosters increased productivity according to the survey. The self-reported productivity improvement of home-based teleworkers averages 15 percent, while telework-center-based employees reported a 30 percent improvement. Management of teleworkers ranges from supervisors located in the same city—to those across the country. Three of every five teleworkers have local supervisors, while nearly one of five were supervised by someone out of state.

The survey also found that 12 percent of teleworkers share their workspace with at least one other person, which equates to an equivalent saving in office space.

On average, both home-based and center-based teleworkers work remotely about 20 hours per week. While there are teleworkers in every region of the U.S., the highest per capita proportions are in the New England, Mountain and Pacific states.

According to the survey, 39 percent of the workers who do not currently work remotely are interested in teleworking—and 13 percent of those workers would consider the ability to telework an important influence when making a decision to accept another job.

Teleworker Demographics

Teleworkers tend to be older, more seasoned employees who often see teleworking as an attractive means of improving family life while maintaining their careers.

Teleworkers tend to be over 25 years of age, with the average home-only teleworker in his/her early 40s. They are categorized into three main types, based on location when teleworking:

	Solely home-based (89 percent)
	Solely telework-center based (7 percent)
	Home and telework-center based (4 percent)

Teleworkers are slightly more prone to be urban area dwellers rather than live in rural areas or small towns. The survey shows that teleworking is most common in the manufacturing, business services, construction, banking, insurance, transport and communications industries. However, essentially every industrial sector in the U.S. has teleworkers.

The e-WORK GUIDE: Recommended Practices from the Experts

ITAC today also introduced a comprehensive guide to teleworking called the “e-WORK GUIDE Recommended Practices from the Experts.” The manual is the result of the work of a blue ribbon panel of telework practitioners and represents current recommended practices for telework. The guide draws on the experience of experts in the fields of human relations, facilities, technology, legal affairs, program management and finance. Special joint ITAC and American Management Association survey results on telework have been incorporated to reinforce the substance of the guide. The survey results indicate that 93 percent of the company telework programs have proven successful in achieving business/bottom line results. In addition, 89 percent have successfully improved worker productivity. (See attached backgrounder.)

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Members Announce New Telework Initiatives

Fairfax County, VA today announced a program to have 900 employees telework at least one day a week by 2005. The number represents 20 percent of county employees in jobs eligible for the program. Fairfax officials will equip employees with the information and tools they need to achieve the goal. The City of Rockville recently developed a written telework policy with the assistance of Maryland’s Telework Partnership and Employers’ Program (TPE).

The Washington region is faced with serious air quality and traffic congestion problems, which makes teleworking a cost-effective method for reducing traffic congestion and vehicle emissions in the region. The Metropolitan Council of Government’s goal is to see 20 percent of the region's workforce telework at least once a week by the year 2005. At that participation level, each weekday 185,000 people would work from home, 70,000 fewer vehicles would be on the road during rush hour, 118,000 gallons of gas would be saved and automobile emissions would be reduced by 1.2 tons.

"Telework is an absolutely essential ingredient to address congestion and air quality issues in regions like ours," said Fairfax County Supervisor Gerald E. Connolly, chairman of COG and an organizer of WACOT.

New National Consumer Information Center Online Telework Publication

The U.S. General Services Administration and the International Telework Association and Council have partnered to develop a new publication on telework, called Telework: The Future is Now." The new publication is being made available through the National Consumer Information Center and is being released today. This is the first-ever, totally virtual publication being offered through the Consumer Information Center. It is free and provides a basic orientation to telework. It also includes telework tips, history, benefits, research findings, and statistics. The publication may be found at www.pueblo.gsa.gov/telework .

HP Announces Great American Work Out Contest Winners

Hewlett-Packard Company today announced the winners of the Great American Work Out Contest which recognizes success stories in both the corporate and individual sectors. Merrill Lynch, the corporate winner, was awarded a $50,000 community grant. Merrill Lynch’s success story showcased how its telework program enabled it to more easily hire and accommodate employees with disabilities.

The individual winner, Bonnie Grisham, director of organization development for Macy’s, was awarded a complete HP telework product bundle and a suite of home office furniture designed specifically for the home work environment.

Conference Sponsors

The Washington Area Conference on Telework is being presented by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, Fairfax County Government and the International Telework Association & Council. Sponsors of the Washington Area Conference on Telework include: the Central Fairfax Chamber of Commerce; Consumer Electronics Association; Covad Communications; Northern Virginia Technology Council; Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce; George Mason University Telework and Training Centers; Greater Washington Board of Trade; U.S. General Services Administration; Hewlett Packard; High Technology Council of Maryland; Indian CEO High Tech Council; Lockheed Martin; Washington, D.C. Technology Council; PatriotNet; and Washington Metropolitan Telework Centers.

Telework America Day

Telework America Day is a national project of ITAC, the world’s leading telework association. First launched in 1995, Telework America Day is a public-private effort to encourage the adoption and growth of telework arrangements through a nationwide campaign of public awareness and education. Participants include corporate, non-profit, government entities as well as individuals across the nation.