Suppose you are a member of the information systems organization of a mid-sized
ID: 3917689 • Letter: S
Question
Suppose you are a member of the information systems organization of a mid-sized firm, and you are convinced that telecommuting represents an excellent opportunity for the firm to both reduce expenses and improve employee morale. In your initial discussion post, make a persuasive case to management for adopting such a program. Your post must identify benefits and potential issues that must be overcome to make such a program a success.
In your response posts, switch gears and imagine that you are now a representative of the management (CEO, CIO/CTO, CFO, or another role of your choice).
Explanation / Answer
Q1) telecommuting represents an excellent opportunity for the firm to both reduce expenses and improve employee morale
Flexible work options increase productivity. - Both anecdotal evidence and scientific research support the notion that people who are granted work flexibility see a boost in productivity. For example, in statistics compiled by Global Workplace Analytics, JD Edwards teleworkers were shown to be 20-25 percent more productive than their office colleagues. And American Express employees who worked from home were 43 percent more productive than workers in the office. That’s partially because people are happier and healthier when they have some control over their work lives.
Flexible work options reduce turnover. - Recruiting and training new employees is expensive. Companies are always looking for ways to improve their hiring processes and to keep the workers they hire. Flexibility and telecommuting can help in both respects. A willingness to recruit remote workers expands the potential talent pool, especially when it comes to millennials who expect flexibility. Statistics also show that flex workers are more satisfied, and thus, less likely to leave a company. Furthermore, companies that offer flexibility generate good word of mouth, both internally and externally, which can help with recruitment and retention.
Flexible work options improve morale. - Workers who can telecommute occasionally or otherwise participate in flexible work plans tend to be healthier, both physically and emotionally. According to The Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College, a study of more than 19,000 employees at nine different companies showed that stress and burnout were lower among workers who had workplace flexibility. Evidence also suggests that flexibility is good for the brain, leading to happier workers who are also more creative. And it may help you build bridges among the different generations in your workforce, reducing the bad feelings and poor morale that can result when millennials, Generation X workers, and baby boomers don’t see eye-to-eye.
Flexible work options are eco-friendly. - In addition to helping workers feel better and more productive, telecommuting can also help your company be part of reducing climate change. Eliminating or cutting back on daily commutes reduces pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Properly using videoconferencing and other remote communication tools can help companies reduce business travel, which also cuts pollution. People who work from home also use less electricity, fewer supplies, and less office equipment, reducing waste. If your business wants to be environmentally friendly, flexibility should be part of its culture.
Flexible work options are cost-effective. - As mentioned, flexibility usually leads to improvements in employee recruitment and retention. Since hiring and training new workers is expensive, this is an obvious cost benefit to a business. But companies that embrace telecommuting may also save money on the purchase or leasing off office space, since they’ll need fewer cubicles for on-site workers. Work flexibility also tends to reduce employee absenteeism, and it can allow companies to more easily match their payrolls to seasonal or other shifts in employment, bringing additional cost benefits. Finally, when a company’s employees can work from home, that business doesn’t have to worry about losing productivity when a huge power outage hits the office, or a storm or other natural disaster prevents travel.
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