1	Teleworking: Will It Work for You? Eileen Wollam Technical Publications Manager NonStop Enterprise Division, HP Amanda Gaston Team Leader, Nashville Technical Publications Schneider Electric/Square D
2	Overview Who Are We? Introduction to Teleworking Policy, Equipment, and Tools Tips for the Home-Based Teleworker Onsite Meeting Etiquette Life as a Teleworking Manager Life as a Teleworking Team Leader Teleworking Ethics Resources Q&A
3	Who Are We? Eileen Wollam Employed as Tech Pubs manager for the NonStop Enterprise Division of HP Member of Telework Task Force Moved to Nashville from Silicon Valley last summer Manage seven individual contributors, who work at home at least one day/week Mentor one editor in India Key contributor to Enterprise Content Management project
4	Who Are We? Amanda Gaston Amanda Gaston: Alter ego’s name: Sam Employed as Tech Pubs Sr. Tech Writer and Team Leader for Schneider Electric/Square D Work with Engr. and Prod. Mktg. to create literature for electrical distribution equipment Been employed with the company for 6-1/2 years (4 years/5 months teleworking) Team lead four individuals who work at home at least two days/week
5	Introduction to Teleworking (1 of 8) Background/history 1972: Significant “first”: Jack Niles became known as the “Father of Telecommuting/Telework” January, 1990: Promotion of teleworking when the President’s Council on Management Improvement approved guidelines for a one-year Federal Flexible Workplace Pilot Project October 1, 1990: Office of Personnel Management: successful teleworking pilot implemented
6	Introduction to Teleworking (2 of 8) July 11, 1994: Presidential elective: agencies to establish a program to encourage and support the expansion of flexible family-friendly work arrangements including . . . telecommuting . . .” 1996: President Management Council endorsed a National Telecommuting Initiative to increase the use of telework by all American employers
7	Introduction to Teleworking (3 of 8) June 21, 1996: Executive departments and agencies directed to “review their personnel practices and develop a plan of action to utilize the flexible policies already in place and, to the extent feasible, expand their ability to provide their employees . . . opportunities to telecommute.”
8	Introduction to Teleworking (4 of 8) October 2000: Public Law 106-346, Section 359 established the mandate for federal agencies to establish policies for implementing telework opportunities and dramatically increase their numbers of teleworkers February 1, 2001: President George W. Bush introduced his New Freedom Initiative to address working equality barriers for Americans with disabilities
9	Introduction to Teleworking (5 of 8) Impact on Society Between 1995 and 1997, the number of people teleworking grew by 3 million Decreased costs for road construction and public transportation Reduced cyclical energy shortages Decreased fuel and transportation costs Less traffic congestion/fewer “long-distance” commutes Heightened awareness for planet conservation
10	Introduction to Teleworking (6 of 8) Types of teleworker Home-based: Works primarily off-site; does not have onsite office space; comes onsite occasionally Office-based: Works offsite one-to-four days a week; has onsite office space Occasional: Works offsite from time to time.
11	Introduction to Teleworking (7 of 8) Advantages for the company Employee retention Increased productivity Money saved on space and utilities Positive PR Disadvantages for the company Fewer employees onsite to put out fires Scheduling difficulties Possible accessibility and performance issues Attitude of onsite employees Occasional travel expenses
12	Introduction to Teleworking (8 of 8) Advantages for the employee Flexibility to meet family and personal obligations Increased productivity Avoid long commute (office-based) Live out of commute range (home-based) Disadvantages for the employee Less visibility Fewer choice assignments Other employees’ attitudes about teleworking Lack of social contact and chocolate Equipment and connectivity issues Easy to become a workaholic
13	Corporate and Department Policies (1 of 2) Teleworking is a privilege—you have to earn it! Permission to telework is at manager’s discretion. Corporate process: Web site, policy, and procedures Questionnaire to determine suitability Manager/employee discussion Online form to submit to manager and HR
14	Corporate and Department Policies (2 of 2) Department process Web site and policy Telework task force Agreement completed and renewed annually at review time Teleworkers’ hours and contact info on department Web site
15	Equipment/Connectivity Corporate equipment and security software required Security and OS updates automatic at login Login via Virtual Private Network (VPN) Digital badge and ActivKey for security IT support online and by phone 24x7 Division SIG for teleworkers to discuss equipment and connectivity issues (HP)
16	Collaboration Tools Corporate conference call number Online conference room scheduling Outlook to schedule meetings and assign tasks NetMeeting for small meetings Webcasts for large meetings SharePoint for sharing team documents (HP) Virtual classroom for training
17	Tips for the Home-Based Teleworker Be visible: speak up at meetings, volunteer. Be accessible. Have a dedicated work space. Eliminate household distractions (kids, pets). Get a good headset! Get unlimited long distance and conference calling. Get a 4-in1 printer. Pay attention to ergonomics. Take breaks! Stay out of the office during nonworking hours.
18	Onsite Meeting Etiquette Send slides, handouts, set up a NetMeeting. Don’t forget to call the teleworker. Announce who is in the room. Speak up. Conduct one conversation at a time. Give the teleworker a chance to speak. If you write on the board, narrate! Announce when the meeting is over.
19	Life as a Teleworking Manager Work hours based on California time Biweekly staff meetings with my group Biweekly 1-1s with staff; weekly 1-1 with India Weekly manager staff meeting Weekly 1-1 with my manager Lots of email communication Quarterly trips onsite Learning to be my own support person
20	Life as a Teleworking Team Leader Weekly 1-on-1s with contract tech writer in OH Annual offsite team building meeting Two hats (peer writer and team leader) Being “okay” with putting the team before my own preferences (convenient or not) Learning to “hear” what I can’t always “see” Always maintaining a flexible schedule
21	Teleworking Ethics (1 of 4) Is the in-house work ethic the same as the teleworking work ethic? Relatively Simple by Definition: “Working” Ethic Code of Conduct: Applied morals and values that provide the framework to form decisions and execute actions in accordance with corporate values and policies
22	Teleworking Ethics (2 of 4 ) Somewhat Complex by Application: Morals and values: Based on individual beliefs Corporate values and policies: How closely do they align with your individual morals and values? How much trust does your company have in you (and you in yourself) to follow the working ethic when you’re “out of sight”? Is your in-house work ethic the same as your out-of-office work ethic?
23	Teleworking Ethics (3 of 4) Ethical, Questionable, and Unethical Work Behaviors Consider these parameters regarding teleworking: Freedom of work ethic Workplace monitoring Compensation Company benefits Family Employee equity Company commitment to teleworking
24	Teleworking Ethics (4 of 4) Take the five-minute, teleworking test (please, no names—just honest answers) Pretend to be a teleworker (if you’re not already one) Rate the behavior of each scenario as: Ethical Questionable Unethical
25	Resources International Telework Association and Council (http://telecommute.org/) American Telecommuting Association (http://knowledgetree.com/ata.html) Working for America: Office of Personnel Mgmt. And General Services Administration (http://www.telework.gov) Teleworking Ethics (http://www.luc.edu/ethics/23260etc2/etc2-9GuthriePick.html)
26	Q&A