To Recruit Talent, Try Telecommuting

A survey has found 92 percent of employees saying the ability to telework would be a key factor in deciding if they would accept a job. The survey is by TrueCareers, a Reston, VA online job board that provides companies with prescreened candidates. Pollsters also found 91% believe they would be more productive if they could work from home. Of the 1,963 respondents, two-thirds had either already tried it or are considering it. The reasons? They want to spend more time with families, have more flexibility, and eliminate costly and stressful commute time. The survey found 60% of respondents now have at least a 15 mile commute to work each way. A related article says a poll by the Positively Broadband Campaign found similar results. More than half of those surveyed think telework would improve the quality of their lives, and among those who spent more than an hour a day commuting, the number was 66%. People said they thought it would make them a better parent or spouse, and about a third would take the option to telework over higher pay.

Source: Work & Family Newsbrief, September, 2002