Sustainability: business, life, environment

Sustainable businesses looking to cut cost and also integrate sustainability concepts in business operations are looking to remote working to do the trick.  Why?  There are several contributing factors. 
 
For starters,  a report by the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, highlights benefits of remote working including “reducing absenteeism, lowering turnover, improving the health of workers, and increasing productivity.”  The same benefits are borne out by the results of a report by The Telework Coalition, “Wired Working as a Lifestyle,” that found:

• businesses save an average of $20,000 a year for each full-time employee who works remotely;
• employee productivity increased by an average of 22 % when remote working was allowed;
• remote working reduced employee turnover by 50 %.

 
There are environmental benefits as well.  As shared in our sustainability consulting, remote working as part of a sustainable business strategy helps:

• Conserve energy
• Preserve the environment
• Reduce commuter traffic .  This reduces toxic gases and dust particles released into the atmosphere as well as the chemicals washed into our waterways, wells, and rivers.

 
Finally, there are additional benefits to both employees and businesses to be considered. 

• For employees: lower commuting-related expenses, enjoying flexible scheduling, and making physical handicaps a non-issue.
• For businesses: Freeing up physical office space, reduced travel expenses, no capacity limits, and improves flex benefits offerings for recruiting purposes.

 
One of Winning Workplaces’ 2007 Top Small Workplaces Winners has made virtual team building not just an initiative but its lifeblood.  Seattle-based professional services provider Point B started with just a handful of employees in 1995 and now has over 330 employees in seven cities.  The really amazing thing, though, is that they do not have any physical offices.
 
Convinced?  Maybe ready to explore how your business can reap these benefits? Recommended in our business sustainability programs are resources to help your business on its way.  Here's a few to explore. 
 

• Telework Coalition:  A network of telecommuters, employers and government entities that support telecommuters through education, certification, and networking opportunities.
• Commuter Choice: A nationwide partnership designed to help employers create customized solutions to their employee’s commuting challenges.
• Telework Advisory Group of WorldatWork:  WorldatWork  is an association of human resource professionals from FORTUNE 500 and other leading organizations worldwide focused on attracting, motivating and retaining employees.