Lawmakers Should Do More to Encourage Telework Adoption, Say Advocates
Lawmakers should incentivize U.S. telework adoption and dismantle barriers, said broadband proponents. Three teleworking supporters touted the economic and domestic benefits of alternative working environments Thursday at a USTelecom event in Washington. Among the projected benefits were reduced city traffic, lower carbon emissions, reduced dependence on foreign oil, increased personal freedom for employees and increased potential for those with disabilities.
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"We can show [employers] that it is actually cheaper to have people working from home than sending those jobs offshore,” said Chuck Wilsker, CEO of the Telework Coalition. His research shows that an employer could save $20,000 yearly on average by encouraging employees to work from home. A typical teleworker could reduce work expenses $8,400 yearly, said Wilsker. “And on average we are seeing a 22 percent increase in productivity from teleworkers,” he added.
Tax credits and other incentives could encourage more employers to embrace teleworking, said Wilsker. “People love tax credits, and the government needs to go out there and dangle a carrot to the private sector.” Additionally, the federal government needs to curb state tax laws that penalize interstate teleworkers, by passing the Telecommuter Tax Fairness Act, he said.
"In the future it’s not going to be called telework,” said Jennifer Alcott, telework program manager at the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation. “It'll just be called work.” Alcott manages the Telework!VA program, introduced in 2001 to offer financial incentives to business that provide telework options to their employees. The state program has turned Virginia into a leader in telework adoption, with 12 percent of state commuters teleworking compared with 8 percent nationally, according to the department.
The federal government needs to do more to increase the availability of broadband outside major metropolitan hubs, the advocates said. “With good connectivity you can eliminate the need to go to work and eliminate coast-to-coast travel,” said Wilsker. Alcott said telecommuting requires a connection that has at least half the capacity of a T1 and support VPNs. “America needs to address the regulations that prohibit and inhibit the use of broadband technology in the home,” she said.
Telework incentives could help older and disabled workers and allow people to work later in life, said other advocates. “We're finding that people want to stay in their homes as they get older and [understanding] technology is crucial to facilitating that,” said Debra Berlyn, executive director of Project GOAL (Getting Older Adults Online). Part of GOAL’s mission is to help old people understand the technology behind teleworking, so they can be more productive and engaged while remaining at home.
Teleworking alternatives have not gained traction among older workers, who generally lack the digital literacy of younger generations. GOAL estimates that only 35 percent of older workers have broadband in their homes. “The technology can be overwhelming for people not accustomed to using it,” said Berlyn. “There is that fear factor of privacy and security challenges that we need to address.”
Security worries create a significant barrier to widespread telework adoption, the advocates acknowledged. Many corporate managers are concerned that telecommuting could increase their vulnerability to digital theft and misconduct. These concerns are particularly valid for defense companies and healthcare companies, required by law to secure the sensitive and personal information they transmit. “There are legitimate concerns,” said Alcott, “but they are not insurmountable, and we can work through the barriers.”