As an alternative to living close to work more people have chosen to commute to work, but this is becoming less desirable as road congestion worsens and the damage caused by exhaust emissions has become evident. Teleworking is an option that no longer determines where we live or whether we commute.

Advances in information and communication technology have closed distances and widened our choices by making remote working possible. The word tele - meaning "at a distance" - has been adopted to describe this way of working. Teleworking can be defined as, "Working at a distance."

Explaining what a Teleworker does would be a difficult task but broadly speaking anyone who works at a distance from their source of work could be called a Teleworker. In more precise terms teleworking is applied to the use of modern technology for transferring work electronically from its source to the worker.

A case for teleworking

In recent years many people have predicted that teleworking will become so popular that as much as one-third of all work could eventually be performed outside the conventional workplace. A flexible approach in the manner people are employed within organisations has been in focus over the last fifteen years, with the introduction of job sharing, flexible working schemes and continental shifts.

The introduction of teleworking as a mode of employment can help achieve greater flexibility of staff with minimal extra labour costs. The need for large, high-cost inner city workspaces can be avoided and employers can have access to an alternative skilled workforce in rural areas whilst bringing employment to areas of deprivation.

Environmentally there are benefits to be gained from developing teleworking by reducing pollution and saving energy. Similarly for the employee there is a reduction in stress levels associated with getting to and from work.

Governments now recognise the need to enforce pollution controls and acknowledge the advantages of teleworking as an environmentally sound means of working. Although a relatively new concept, several local authorities have already piloted teleworking schemes with favourable outcomes.

For further information contact:

Carol Hill
Telecentre Manager
Warsop Town Hall
Church Street
Market Warsop
Mansfield
Nottinghamshire
NG20 0AL

Tel: 01623 845121
Fax: 01623 847914
Video conferencing: (+44) 01623 845674
E-mail: telecentre@nottscc.gov.uk

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