Printer-Friendly
Email this Story
Post a Comment (0)
Get a life, lose the commute
In 1990, the Census Bureau reported 40,700 residents living in Fauquier County. There were 55,139 people residing here according to the most recent Census data, collected in 2000, an approximate 33 percent increase in 10 years.The population growth continues at a steady pace with projections of 68,200 residents by 2010. Our once quiet, rural county is rapidly turning into yet another Washington, D.C. "bedroom community."
The Fauquier County Department of Economic Development reports that 47 percent of commuters were traveling to work outside of our boundaries in 2000, each one sharing the road each day with more than 16,000 other commuters.
As anyone slogging along in bumper-to-bumper traffic down U.S. 29 or Interstate 66 each day knows, the number of commuters has grown significantly since 2000, and it isn't getting any better.
What can you do to get a life and lose the commute?
The obvious solution is to spend less time in rush-hour traffic. How can you do that and still get to work? It's been called flexiplace, telecommuting, remote work, workplace flexibility, and telework, but it all describes the same thing: working from a place more convenient than your primary office.
There are many advantages to teleworking for you, your organization, and the community.
You can work when you would normally be sitting in traffic, you will be less stressed and more productive. You will have more time to enjoy your family, friends, hobbies, and community activities. You save money in gasoline expenses and do less damage to the environment.
There is an excellent Web site ¯ www.teleworkexchange.com ¯ that will assist you in calculating the actual savings you will realize through telework and developing a justification for it.
Before you request a telework arrangement, it's important to:
* Anticipate your supervisor's questions and concerns.
* Think about your job responsibilities and determine which ones can be successfully accomplished from a home office or other remote work site.
* Make sure that you can contact your supervisor, co-workers, and clients from your telework office.
* Determine what supplies and equipment you will need to get the job done and what the related costs might be, and who will pay the cost of establishing your remote office.
Many organizations are willing to supply laptop computers, cell phones, and other devices to facilitate telework. If your manager is reluctant to do so, you might consider financing them yourself. Let's face it, the expense is likely to be less than the cost of your current commute.
Another option for telework is leasing a workstation at a local telework center.
The telework centers are fully equipped with all that you are likely to need to complete your assignments and be in touch with your office.
A distinct advantage to having an office outside your home is that it helps avoid the blurring of the line between work and personal time. You can find out more about telework centers in our region by visiting www.thecommutershortcut.com, www.nocommute.org and www.telework.gov.
If you are a federal employee, the telework.gov site is an excellent resource for information on the laws, regulations, and policies that define telework within the federal community.
It is important to submit a written request for telework that details how, where, and when you will work remotely/off-site. If telework is a new idea for your organization, you might request a "pilot" arrangement for one or two days a week to test it out before your supervisor makes a final decision. Whatever the case, your employer should be given at least 120 days advance notice.
Finally, remember this: If you take the time to carefully plan your telework arrangement at the outset, it will prove to be a win-win solution for you, your family, your community, and your organization.
Kathryn Kadilak, a former Department of Justice employee, is president of the Metropolitan Washington Work/Life Coalition. She can be reached at kkadilak@msn.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.