SAN JOSE, Calif. — Teleworking, it seems, is as good for the company as it is for employees. In a recent survey of nearly 2,000 employees,
Cisco found a slew of benefits to its flexible work program.
The company's workforce now telecommutes an average of 2 days per week, resulting in a more productive, engaged workforce as well as generating significant savings for the company: Cisco's strategic consulting arm found that the company has saved $277 million by allowing employees to telework.
The survey found that 40 percent of employees are not located in the same city as their direct manager, while 83 percent of teleworkers said that their ability to collaborate and communicate with colleagues and supervisors was as good if not better than if they were working in a central office.
Additionally, the quality of work from telecommuting employees was not hindered by remote working: 69 percent said their productivity was higher, and 75 percent said their work was more timely when working remotely; overall, 67 percent said telecommuting improved the quality of their work.
As a result of Cisco's flexible work program, 80 percent of those surveyed said it improved their quality of life, and 91 percent said telecommuting was somewhat or very important to their overall job satisfaction.
On top of the employee satisfaction and retention benefits and the overall corporate savings from the alternative work plan, teleworking decreased Cisco's company-wide emissions by more than 47,000 tons through avoided travel, and employees saved an accumulated $10 million per year in fuel costs.
For more on the benefits of telework, see other this in-depth coverage from GreenBiz.com: "
Driving a Low-Carbon Commute," by Tilde Herrera, and
Telecommuting and the Green Office of the Future," by Dana Sanchez.
