Soaring Gas Prices Make Workers "Rethink Their Commute"
If you have filled your gas tank lately, you likely have felt the sting at the pump, with gas prices having reached over $4 a gallon in many areas around the U.S. Earlier this week, President Obama outlined plans for reducing the country’s dependence on foreign oil, but made it clear that there are no “quick fixes” to the soaring gas prices.While we work toward these longer term solutions, staggering transportation costs are leading workers to “rethink” their commute.
Telecommuting is no longer just for those in geographically dispersed areas. More employers than ever are employing remote work policies. In fact, 62 percent of companies in a recent survey reported allowing remote workers.
New technological advancements, such as Skype video calling, are minimizing the need to be physically present in an office. They are empowering more people than ever to work from locations other than the physical corporate office, such as at home or from the local coffee shop. Allowing employees to work remotely not only helps employees save money on gas and transportation, but also many employers are recognizing that flexible working environments promote increased collaboration (getting work done), while helping decrease employee turnover.
Working remotely even one day a week using technologies like Skype may even provide an immediate boost to the bottom-line. With Skype’s new Group Video Calling feature, it becomes easy to communicate and collaborate across dispersed locations. While it may require some adjustments from a physical meeting, the advantages have reached the tipping point for many businesses. As more workers in an enterprise can get productive work accomplished from remote locations, they can get more done, lower office overhead costs and, yes, even save money on gas.
This “quick fix” solves the immediate need to save money on gas, while also helping give your business a competitive advantage. Your organization will become more nimble, more collaborative, and respond faster to customer needs, as well as become known as a place that highly creative workers who need a more flexible living workplace will want to work.
What do you think? We welcome your thoughts and comments here on this post.
