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Over one month into 2010 already. Time always slips by faster than I expect. In the meantime, plenty of predictions have rolled in about the future of telework in the coming decade. These predictions are not pulled out of thin air. Instead, many seem to predict that we will build off trends that have already been occurring over the last few years. These ideas are compatible and will spur one another forward. What am I talking about?

In the next year and beyond, experts agree that we will be going green and going mobile. We see it all around us in the small and the big ways. Need an example of a small and a big way all in one? Well.

A personal ‘green example’: I was at Target the other day. I declined a bag and was given a small discount on my purchase as a result. Perhaps I am behind on the times and/or living under a rock, but this was news to me. I knew of other retailers that offered similar incentives, but I simply didn’t expect it from the Minnesota-based giant.

These types of practices are becoming more and more common as businesses of all shapes and sizes become more and more green. A few cents off for not using a bag may not seem like a big deal, but I see it as an indicator that our culture is changing. The small ways are reflective of the big changes. These kinds of changes, while indirect, pave the way for telework.

And, while the idea of mobility is desired for more than just its green compatibility, there is no denying these concepts often go hand in hand. Our wireless capabilities are growing and our hesitancies are diminishing.

This is good news for telework, good news for business, and good news for us all. Not convinced?

How about a direct example in the government: Even the White House encourages its employees to telework – not just during emergencies but routinely as a practice that supports the Obama administration’s policy to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. If you want people to take you seriously, you’ve got to set a good example, right?

Paternalism aside, everywhere in the country we see telework catching on.

In fact, another large private employer gets it too: Chattanooga, Tennessee, anyone? Their biggest employer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, wants to double its telecommuting staff from 400 to 800 in the next year because the program is working so well in terms of cost savings as well as productivity. And on top of all that? Mobile and green!

Call me an optimist, but this decade is looking mighty, mighty good for all these reasons and more.

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

As the old adage goes, "A picture is worth a thousand words."

Apparently, and excuse me for not knowing this, you can create groups on the photo-posting website Flickr based on the topic. I found the pool for the topic “telework” today. There are over 500+ photos individuals have uploaded to showcase bits and pieces of their lives, as related to telework.

Some are funny, some are touching, but all remind me of why telework is important to all of us as people. Balancing different parts of our lives is easier, using the technology that we have is smarter and more efficient, working this way can make us more productive and happier. Why not tap into that potential? 

You can see the photos here. Here’s a taste of some of my favorites:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/geirarne/66766269/in/pool-telework Today’s Office "Today I'm telecommuting from my old bedroom at my parent’s house."

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ddfic/456799827/in/pool-telework Day 2: Now THIS is what I call telecommuting… "Since construction of our new bathroom is right next to my home office, I was forced to relocate temporarily. Soft purple couch, warm roaring fire, laptop, and pussycat. Does it get any better than this?"

http://www.flickr.com/photos/smoocherie/274017500/in/pool-telework So this is what a technomad is… "Enjoying an afternoon working while hanging out with radven on Treasure Island, CA. Like my office view today? Photo taken by radven using the camera on my smartphone. Laptop being powered by radven’s solar power system on his tab rv. " Technomad heaven, I hear.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tadnkat/3923364820/in/pool-telework This is how we roll. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/turniptopia/1539329707/in/pool-telework pericraft lately pt. 2

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

Happy holidays, everyone!

"The season is upon us" is really just a pretty way of saying we are going to get DUMPED on with snow. Good for making snowmen and sitting by fireplaces, but not so much for clear roads or traffic flow.

Federal offices in Washington D.C. are all but sure to close down. Some of these workers will actually be teleworking during this time, so productivity may not be lost after all! News isn’t so clear on what businesses in Washington D.C. will be doing though.

I know that here in good old Minnesota we stubbornly send our employees out to treacherous roads, and almost proudly so, regardless of the weather. What’s two feet of snow in a night, eh?

By no means am I picking on our great work ethic or our fantastic snow removal services, but it doesn’t particularly make sense to send out whole workforces during blizzards or to drive on ice rinks when we have options like telework. Though ice rink driving could potentially be a pretty cool addition to the Winter Olympics… but I digress.

Weather is always that unpredictable factor on your bottom line. Why not be prepared?

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

Well, folks, it looks like it is already November. The fall season has gone by quickly and as I write this we are experiencing surprisingly good weather in Minnesota… let’s hope I didn’t jinx it just by saying that.

In the last couple months, we have experienced reason after reason to continue pushing telework here at eWorkPlace… at least if you view things through a “telework lens” the way I do. Any talk of H1N1 or “swine flu” for instance. Or economic troubles. A rainy day. Budgets and deficits. Particularly bad traffic. You get the idea.  

I don’t mean to say that telework can be a one size fits all solution to any problem, but too often it is viewed as a possible benefit to employees rather than as part of the equation to a solution for employees AND employers. While doing one of my regular searches, I found a telework quiz geared towards employees but why don’t I see more of these things geared towards employers?  

We need to change the way we talk about telework. Let’s start now. What are your thoughts?

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

Being the telecommuting junkie that I am, I have a habit of Googling for telework and reading whatever I can find about it. Blogs, news, videos, pictures, you name it.

In my search, I recently came across a Planetizen blog written by Tim Halbur where he suggested the creating of a telecommuting town. To summarize, Halbur’s town builds on the idea of a telework utopia, where all workers are able to work from home, creating a zero commute. While this may not be possible, his project proposes to select twenty towns across the country that are “ripe for creating a telecommuting hub”. Based on what is learned from the project, city halls, town centers, meeting rooms, and other public spaces may be “retrofitted” to become telework-friendly.

Surely, this is a bold idea. But of course the most pressing question is: How realistic is this? Is it practical? Heck, do we have the money?

Or, discarding practicalities, it is also interesting to ask why ideas like these are becoming more popular. These conversations are becoming more and more frequent, particularly online. What can we glean from that?

It seems to me that the popularity of this idea is what is important. It is what many employees and employers seem to want more and more. The most innovative and exciting businesses have already taken advantage of telework to increase their productivity, life satisfaction, and to save money.

While a Telecommuting Town may not be available near you (or anywhere… yet), the eWorkPlace program does offer some pretty great incentives to get at some pretty great benefits. And it’s definitely more feasible than creating entire towns for telework, no?

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

A recent report by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) found that although traffic congestion is down, costs to commuters are still rising. In 2007, commuters spent one hour less stuck in traffic and wasted one less gallon of gas than they did in the year 2006. According to the 26^th Urban Mobility Report, this was primarily due to higher gas prices.

At best, this is mixed news. Traffic jams still cost $87.2 billion dollars in lost time, productivity and fuel in the year 2007 according to TTI. Over 2.8 billion gallons gasoline was wasted that year – enough to fill each commuter’s gas tank for three weeks.

Another issue the TTI report raised was that although the current recession will prolong this dip in congestion, traffic volumes will certainly rise when the economy improves. But… what should we do if we want both a healthy economy, decent gas prices, and reduced congestion? …too much to ask? Well, the report goes on to propose a number of long-lasting solutions… including flexible work hours and teleworking!

Although businesses can’t participate in reducing congestion through the creation of toll lanes or bike paths, it is certainly feasible to participate in telework. What will that save your company as an employer? You as an employee? All of us as a community?

Although I could probably leave that as a rhetorical question, there is one tool you could use to give you an estimate of your individual commuting cost. Our eWorkPlace Commute Tool is a calculator that helps you see your own monetary costs as well as your environmental costs via annual greenhouse emissions.

Frequently, the numbers are striking. It goes to show that individuals really can make a difference… but it’s easier when the barriers are lowered.

In this case, eWorkPlace can help you, your company, and all of us change the way we think about work as well as the ways we can contribute to the reduction of congestion and the growth in savings. Forgive me, I’ve probably said something similar before, but I have a tendency to repeat myself when I really believe in something.

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

I’m jealous. No. Envious? Hmm. I admire? Yes. Let’s go with that.

I admire the fact that Governor Timothy M. Kaine has announced a statewide Telework Day in the state of Virginia set for August 3, 2009. 

His announcement recognizes that “telework is a family-friendly, business-friendly public policy that promotes workplace efficiency, reduces strain on transportation infrastructure, and provides an opportunity to ‘green’ Virginia. We encourage organizations and individuals in Virginia to take the Telework Day pledge and see how telework can help them improve productivity and business operations, while also benefiting the environment.”

Pretty well said. And admirable, indeed. What do you think? Could we do something like that in Minnesota?

Learn more about Telework Day here and send me your thoughts.

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

First things first, if you still haven’t seen this article in the Twin Cities Daily Planet about eWorkPlace, go read it!

Secondly, I’d like to talk about how telework can help mitigate unemployment in the current economic crisis. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, and in the case of the upcoming link, MSNBC, the national unemployment rate is now 9.5% which is a 26-year high.

Although some companies recognize that telework is one way to boost morale and offer perks in the downturn, not enough companies are recognizing this is also one way to save money and reduce unnecessary layoffs. Small and large businesses alike can save up to 15-20% just from the reduction in the utility and landline bills at the office. 

Ask yourself: How many jobs would that save?

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

I realized recently that it has been awhile since I’ve posted a video. I’ve mostly been talking at you, so why not take a video break to digest some information on teleworking?

Although it’s a piece based on Northern Virginia, many of the same issues still relate to Minnesota, don’t you think?

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

Apparently a significant number of iPhone owners telework regularly and slightly under half regularly access an employers’ network from home, when compared to smartphone or mobile phone owners.

Hmm. Well I don’t have the convenience of an iPhone to aid my teleworking, but it hasn’t been a problem yet. Am I missing out on something? Surely there are tools that are more affordable and dare I say… free? (yeah don’t be surprised if this becomes a theme. I’m a fan of free. And saving money. Why do you think I’m such a proponent of teleworking? ;)

In any case, a fellow blogger listed 100 Must-Have Web Tools for Telecommuters on The Daily Netizen. An excellent resource for employers and employees alike. Even if you happen to have an iPhone, some of these suggestions will surely be a useful addition to your teleworking toolbox.

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

98% of employees’ work-related carbon footprints are generated before they even reach the office. With statistics like that, the environmental reasons to telework are undeniable.

Want some more facts? Here are five more:

• Americans would conserve over 1.2 million gallons of gas per week if only 10% of the nation’s work force teleworked merely one day a week.
• The average passenger car travels 12,500 miles per year – this translates to 606 pounds of carbon monoxide and 10,000 pounds of carbon dioxide emitted annually. However, the absence of one 30 mile round trip per week saves 1.4 pounds of carbon monoxide and 24 pounds of carbon dioxide. Using these estimates, an individual teleworking once a week would save 72.8 pounds of carbon monoxide and 1,248 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.
• About 40% or 33 million Americans with jobs suitable for remote work, these workers could collectively avoid 154 trillion miles of driving a year, saving $110 million a day and 7.5 trillion gallons of gas.
• 12 million employees and 16 million self-employed people who already work at home at least one day a month are saving 24% of guilf oil imports and avoiding production of 33 million metric tons of greenhouse gases a year.

Check back later for more green reasons to telecommute.

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota

As summer nears, construction in Minnesota hits all-time highs. This summer is no different. Articles like these become more and more frequent. It’s fitting, then, that the eworkplace program is available at a point when your commute time may very well double.

What is better: leaving early and still getting to work late? Or not having to leave at all and not having to waste time that could be spent doing work?

A no-brainer, right?

Besides, enroll early and get FREE telework consulting services.

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota