1. Productivity from
Telework
Peter Thomson
Research Director, Telework Association

2. Agenda
• 2.00 Introduction
• 2.10 Benefits of telework
• 2.20 Results of home worker survey
• 2.40 Implications for organisations
• 2.50 Managing for productivity
• 3.00 Break
• 3.10 Panel Questions and Discussion
• 4.00 Finish
2

3. Benefits of Smarter Working
• Attract the best employees
• Improve productivity
• Reduce employee turnover
• Increase morale
• Reduce absenteeism
• Improve diversity
• Show corporate responsibility

4. Cranfield Survey
7 Major Employers
Performance – quantity of work

5. ...more positive views
Performance – quality of work

6. Teamworking

7. British Chambers of Commerce
survey of SMEs

10. Benefits of flexible working
BEFORE AFTER
1.Reduced business travel 1.Employee satisfaction
2.Improved customer services 2.Increased productivity
3.Increased productivity 3.Reduced business travel
4.Employee satisfaction 4.Savings in Fuel Costs
5.Access hours to services 5.Employees work-life balance
6.Employees work-life balance 6.Cost reductions
7.Morale 7.Morale
8.Cost reductions 8.Improved customer services
9.Teamwork 9.Improved Profitability
10.Culture change/improvement 10.Decreased staff turnover

11. Comments on the benefits
of working at home
• Tony Corbin
– Hampshire County Council
• Mark Thomas
– Word Association
• Christine Featherstone
– Hampshire County Council
11

12. Telework Association Research
• Survey of 350 home workers
• Comparing ‘home’ and ‘office’
productivity
• Measured where possible
• Discovering why the difference
12

13. Who Responded?
Size of Employer, if any Work Sector
Contractors,
2%
Over 1000 Both, 21
Empls, 17% Self %
250-1000 empl, 31%
Empls, 5%
100-250 Public, 1 Private, 6
Empls, 5% 7% 3%
<10
10-100
empls, 16%
Empls, 24%
13

14. How Long?
Teleworking experience
<1
>10 year, 11%
years, 21%
6-10
1-5
years, 21%
years, 47%
14

15. Where do they work?
Time spent working at home Time spent working in office
0 days, 2%
<1
<1 day, 14%
day, 14%
0
5 days, 31% 1 day, 7%
days, 31%
1 day, 15% 2
days, 11%
4 2 5 3
days, 11% days, 15% days, 14% days, 11%
3 4
days, 12% days, 12%
15

16. Productivity?
Are you more productive?
70.00%
60.00%
50.00%
40.00%
30.00%
20.00%
10.00%
0.00%
Definitley + Possibly + Not Sure Probably - Definitely -
16

17. How much more Productive?
Lower, 5%
Equal, 10%
Higher but not
measured, 36%
>50%, 12%
41-50%, 6%
31-40%, 7% 21- 11-
30%, 10% 20%, 10% 0-10%, 4%
17

18. Increased Output
30.00
25.00
20.00
15.00
10.00
5.00
0.00
0-10% 11-20% 21-30% 31-40% 41-50% >50%
18

19. Why?
All reasons for increased productivity
Use commuting time
Suits other commitments
Concentrate better
Fewer interruptions
Less stress
Freedom
Repay trust
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
19

20. Main Reason
Fewer interruptions
Suits other commitments
Use commuting time
Concentrate better
Freedom
Less stress
Repay trust
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
20

21. Conclusions from Survey
• Overwhelming majority of teleworkers have
increased productivity (85%)
• Massive increase in output when people work from
home (25% increase by 50%)
• Home has fewer interruptions that office
• Balancing home and work commitments improves
results
• Saved commuting time can be used for work
21

22. Implications for Organisations
• Traditional assumptions about working at home
are wrong
• Home working should be part of business
strategy
• The potential gains for the bottom line are
substantial
• The risks are small
• Now is a good time to be gaining the benefits
22

23. Comments on productivity
of home working
• Marylou Lousvet
• Carole Thwaites
– Wisework Ltd
23

24. Implications for Managers
• Not just an employee benefit
• Build into business plan
• Discuss with employees
• Agree new working patterns
• Set up pilots
• Measure results
• Manage by output
• Trust and empower
24

25. Conclusions
• Research shows dramatic improvements in
output for people working at home
• Once managers have overcome their fears they
can reap the benefits
• The image of home working needs to be
brought into the 21st Century
• The Telework Association has a role to play in
promoting the benefits
25

27. Panel Session
3.10 – 4.00
• Peter Thomson
– Research Director, Telework Association
• Marylou Lousvet
– Director, Wisework Ltd
• Carol Thwaites
– Senior Consultant, Wisework Ltd
27

28. Productivity from
Telework
Thank you for attending