Line of Business
Sharp rise in telecommuting as Canadian firms strive to cut costs
Allowing employees to work where and when they are most effective is a growing trend, sparked by tightening budgets and the surge of 'millennials' entering the work force.1/7/2009 7:00:00 AM By: Michelle MacLeod
Changing employer and employee needs have triggered a sharp growth in Canada's "virtual work force" (Canadians who work from home, or from third-party locations such as an alternate office, a customer site, a coffee shop or library).
Today 10 per cent of Canada's labour force – or 2.5 million people – work outside the office at least one day a week, says Roberta Fox, a board member of the Canadian Telework Association. Fox is also president and senior partner at Fox Group Consulting, a Toronto-based telecommunications analyst firm.
Government jurisdictions across North America are adopting telework policies and programs.
South of the border, the soon-to-be-installed Obama administration is likely to introduce tax incentives for teleworkers. And this, observers say, will fuel growth of the practice.
Here in Canada, Alberta's greater Calgary region will be launching a regional telework program this year focused on providing a common set of tools to employees.
But it's in the private sector – especially the financial services and telecommunications industries – that we witness the biggest growth of this practice.
One example is Canadian telecom firm Telus Corp. that has experienced dramatic results from its Workstyles initiative launched a year and a half ago.Its purpose is to help employees work when and where they are most effective.
The program is available to everyone in the company if their job allows it, says Mark Lang, HR business partner at Telus.
He said 18,500 of his company's 30,000 employees are remote-work enabled and 15,500 of those do work remotely once a week.
On any given day there will be at least 6,500 people telecommuting, Lang says.
The Workstyles program seeks to enhance employee flexibility, contribute to the environment, and reduce real-estate costs.
Since its launch the program has produced many tangible benefits.
Page Navigation 1) "Employees work when and where they are most effective." – Page 12) Employees do need to work out a deal with their managers. – Page 2
3) Telecommuting is not for everyone. – Page 3
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