- Magazine
- Tech Resources
- Tech Tips
- Gadget Reviews
- All Tech Resources
- Start-up Resources
- Accelerators
- Tech Associations - Canada
- Angels & Investors
- Cloud Services
- Canada's Digital Economy
- Tech and Business Book Reviews
- Consultants
- Economic Development
- eLearning
- Government Funding
- Green Tech
- Human Resources Co's
- Incubators
- Law Firms
- Outsourcing
- Tech Associations (Canadian)
- Outsourcing
- Tech Security
- Universities & Colleges
- Universities & Colleges
- VoIP Services
- Start-ups
- Events
- Community
- Press Releases
- Blog
Calgary Economic Development launches Canada’s first national whitepaper on telework
Bottom Line Benefits Could Total $53 Billion Annually Through Telework
April 18, 2010
(CALGARY) –Twice weekly telecommuting could save Canadian companies, employees and the community over $53 billion dollars a year, reduce greenhouse gasses by the equivalent of taking 385 thousandcars off the roads and save approximately 390 million litres of gas according to Canada’s first major national whitepaper on telework.
Calgary Economic Development, in collaboration with the Telework Research Network , released “WORKshift Canada: the bottom line on telework” today as part of Calgary’s second-annual WORKshift Week. This report shows the latest data and research supporting the financial and environmental opportunity of embracing flexible work for Canada at a national level, including the employee, employer and community benefits associated with teleworking.
“Seeing this impressive data compiled into one neat document has us convinced more than ever of the necessity to work within our communities and organizations to start adopting these practices in a very meaningful way,” said Robyn Bews, Program Manager for WORKshift. “This paper not only clearly supports the bottom-line benefits for the commuter, it hits employers over the head with supportive facts they can no longer ignore. Every commuter in Canada should be sitting in their boss’s office tomorrow morning with this paper as a discussion point.”
Canadian employers can see savings of $10,000 per two-day-a-week telecommuter annually. Telework not only impacts employers; employees who telework can also expect savings between $600 - 3,500 per year through reduced commuting and work-related expenses.
Additionally Canadian companies could realise annual average savings due to reduced turnover equating to over $1.8 billion. They will likely see an increase of 20 per cent in productivity, a seven per cent reduction in attrition and increased employee empowerment and morale.
“Four out of 10 Canadians hold jobs that could be done at home, at least part of the time. Eight in 10 would work from home if they could. Yet, only about three in 100 do,” says Kate Lister, principal researcher and lead consultant at the Telework Research Network. “If the rest of those with compatible jobs and a desire to do so worked from home just twice a week, the national savings would total over $53 billion a year and the greenhouse gas reduction would equate to taking the three out of 10 Montreal commuters off the road. Telework should be a no-brainer. There's simply no quicker, easier, and more popular way to solve labor shortages, reduce energy consumption and pollution, save money, and so much more” says Lister.
“WORKshift Canada: the bottom line on telework” was compiled using census data and analysis of over 400 case studies, research papers and other documents related to telework. The whitepaper looks at the economic, environmental and societal implications of telework.
Calgary’s second-annual WORKshift week runs from April 18-21, promoting telework through a number of events. For more information on WORKshift Week 2011 and to download the whitepaper, visit www.workshiftcalgary.com
- 30 -
ABOUT THE TELEWORK RESEARCH NETWORK
The Telework Research Network (http://TeleworkResearchNetwork.com) is a consulting and research firm that specializes in evaluating the business case for workplace flexibility. They have synthesized over 500 case studies, research papers, and other documents on telecommuting, workplace flexibility and related topics. They’ve conducted interviews with the largest and smallest virtual employers and their employees, telework advocates and naysayers, top researchers, leaders of successful telework advocacy programs, and venture capitalists who have invested in the remote work model. And they’ve developed telework savings models for the US, UK, Canada workforces, and custom research reports for hundreds of companies. Their research has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and scores of other publications.
ABOUT CALGARY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Calgary Economic Development (CED) is working to make Calgary the undisputed choice for people and business. As Calgary’s lead economic development agency, we work with businesses to facilitate growth, expedite local, national and international business investment and trade development opportunitiesandpromote sustainable economic growth in the Calgary region. For more information on Calgary Economic Development, please visit our website at www.calgaryeconomicdevelopment.com
For more information contact:
Calgary Economic Development
Media Cell: 403.880.7040
http://www.webex.com
We’ve got to start meeting like this™
