IT managers should encourage staff to work "virtually" from home: Recruiters
- 30 November, 2010 11:04
- Comments 1
IT departments should facilitate greater use of teleworking if they are to retain top level staff, according a leading technology recruitment agency.
In a recent survey conducted by Robert Half Technology, the recruitment firm found 48 per cent of IT employees would be willing to take a pay cut if they were able to work from home.
Robert Half Technology manager, Jon Chapman, said the survey findings indicate employees in the IT industry are seeking a greater balance between work and life.
“Being made to work additional hours is a workplace reality, however this could be effectively managed if employees were given the option to work from home,” Chapman said in a statement.
The survey found that IT workers are also feeling overworked with 29 per cent of employees working more than 46 hours per week, however 35 per cent often or always feel pressured to work additional hours.
“Being made to work additional hours is a workplace reality, however this could be effectively managed if employees were given the option to work from home,” Chapman said.
“The benefit of working in IT is that the majority of activity can be done remotely, irrespective of traditional office working hours,” he said. “Employers should capitalise on this and recognise that the industry is well placed to make the most of flexible working arrangements.”
According to Chapman, encouraging staff to work from home could lead to greater financial gains, with “telecommuting” providing cost savings to the company with savings on office-related materials.
IT managers hesitant to implement working from home should look at implementing it on a trial basis, says Chapman, making sure there is clear communication about expectations and output.
“If both parties engage in regular communication and meet deadlines, this has the potential to be a win-win arrangement, boosting employee morale and furthering employee productivity,” he said.
As reported by Computerworld Australia, IT managers were warned not to be complacent about their staff’s needs, and to respond to these needs in order to keep their staff.
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Comments
Leslie Satenstein
1
Working fulltime at home is not the answer for the employee. Often there is a social need to intermingle with people. A 3/5 days work at home is reasonable. In fact, if the 3/5 home deal is staggered (example mon-tue-wed and wed-thur-fri), the company can actually save cubicles, electricity, air conditioning and perhaps even insurance.
The employee will save travel time and expenses, which will be more than offset by a) raiding the fridge for snacks, b) running heating and airconditioning, c) telephone and energy costs for the home office.
If one travels more than 1 hour per day each way, then the employee should seriously consider it.
My two cents (I travel 1 1/4 hrs each way each day and it is lost time, except I read the newspaper).