Travel
Information Bulletin
May 2002
Telecommuting
and Emergency Preparedness: A Commuter Choice Advantage…..
In
the aftermath of the September 11 disaster, companies that had a
Telecommuting program were quicker on the rebound than those who had never
considered it as an option. In fact, most of those companies that allowed
their employees to telecommute, had only very minimal interruption in
operations. Looking forward,
it is evident that terrorism is not the only event that can drastically
disrupt business and commercial operations.
Any far-reaching emergency can do the same.
A major highway disruption, an earthquake event, or drastic weather
emergency can make it difficult to impossible for employees to get to work
at their main office location.
People
are driving more distances and have to contend with a longer
‘rush-hour’. The
challenges of traffic gridlock have led to a dramatic rise in commuter
stress. The national call for
emergency preparedness demands that communities and businesses alike
embrace the national effort in Commuter Choice Initiatives.
Communities and businesses alike must be able to function despite
emergency and crisis situations on roadways and localities.
Commuter
Choice is a nationwide partnership designed to help employers create
customized solutions to their employees’ commuting challenges. The one ‘Choice’ that caters to the national call for
emergency preparedness is Telecommuting.
Telecommuting (or Telework) allows employees to work at home, at a
satellite office or telework center near home one or more days a week
instead of commuting to the main office.
Telework brings the job to the person rather than bringing the
person to the job. This can
eliminate the daily commute, reduce the demand for office space and
parking facilities, and keep the employees functioning during emergencies
and crises situations that prevent employees from getting to the main
office.
In
promoting Commuter Choice, employers have often credited the ease or
difficulty of implementing their programs to the attitudes of particular
individuals in key positions. Barriers or potential problems in setting up
a Commuter Choice program vary widely, but the main concern was
administrative time and expense. The
national call for emergency preparedness is a call that businesses must
heed. A telecommuting program
is a vital ingredient in such preparedness for public and private business
establishments.
Over
the past decade, Westchester County has experienced a significant increase
in traffic on area highways and streets, creating barriers to continued
economic growth and impacting the quality of life in the region.
According to the New York State Department of Transportation,
Interstate
287
is currently handling double it's capacity for vehicles, resulting in
longer commutes, lost productivity and increased pressure on area
companies to attract and maintain quality employees. Additionally, the
September 11 event has demonstrated the impact that emergencies can have
on business and communities.
To
address this challenge, a growing number of innovative businesses are
developing alternative work arrangements, including carpooling,
"flextime" and the implementation of telecommuting programs as
an innovative solution to meet the demands of today's workforce and
workplace. A conference has been designed specifically for Westchester
County businesses seeking to leverage today's information technology for
the development and management of today's mobile and remote workforce.
Save
the Date!
Workforce and Workplace
Conference Series
Building
and Managing the Workforce of the Future:
Technology, Travel and Telecommuting
Presented
by
The Westchester County Association, MetroPool and the
Westchester
County Department of Transportation
In association with OnRamp Associates
Renaissance
Hotel June 13, 2002
As
always, for more information and for any of your commute needs, please
call Westchester’s SMART COMMUTE Program at (914) 995-4444, or e-mail us
at tvo1@westchestergov.com
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