Date: September 14, 2005
PricewaterhouseCoopers surveyed 157 companies in Pest county from July to August of this year to study a number of aspects of telework. According to the study, most companies have the potential for creating telework positions, but lack the specific know-how necessary for implementing such programs.
In the study, PWC defines teleworkers, in accordance with labor and employment laws as "employees who work outside of a traditional workplace while communicating with their employers through the use of various alternative communication technology". Based on this definition, 15% of companies currently employ teleworkers, 7% plan to and 53% are considering implementing telework programs in the near future. In most cases the benefits of telework are clear (motivation, reduced administration fees, quicker response time, wider geographical coverage, time-saving). The most prominent disadvantages which still need to be resolved are organization and communication, but naturally solutions are available.
PricewaterhouseCoopers: Telework study results
Respondents consisted of managing directors (18%), finance managers (30%) and HR directors (52%) from companies predominantly representing the distribution and sales, finance and information technology industries. 32% of the companies had less than 250 employees, while 68% had more than 250 employees.
Participating company leaders listed organizational management (37%) and the security of information systems (16%) as the leading difficulties, while potential drawbacks are considered to be diminished community/corporate morale (11%), lack of employee supervision (9%), uncertainty regarding regulations - legal, labor, and tax - (8%), the high cost of establishing suitable work areas and information technology solutions (8%).
The benefits stated by respondants were motivation, reduction of administration fees, quick response time, wider geographical coverage, and time-saving.
79% of respondants are aware that labor laws govern telework, but 60% do not know the content of the laws. In regards to the specific resources and systems involved in telework, respondents are uninformed about secure information techonology systems (70%), tax regulations (66%), necessary infrastructure (44%), and HR procedures (54%).
According to participants, the following occupations could potentially be converted either partially or fully into telework positions: managers, consultant, logistics coordinator, customer service provider, telephone operator, purchaser, team leader, administrator, product manager, project coordinator, data entry assistance, systems operator, maintenance, payroll, finance, HR assistant, auditor, accountant, designer, editor, reporter, marketer, trainer.
ENDS
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