The following are references in support of Telework as supported by federal agencies, businesses and individuals.

Telework Enhancement Act

Federal agencies have to:

• Establish policy for eligible employees to telework

• Determine employee eligibility

• Notify all employees of their eligibility

• Establish interactive training programs for teleworkers and telework managers

• Include telework in business continuity (COOP) plans

• Designate a Telework Managing Officer

• Must be a senior official with direct access to agency head

• Provide yearly progress reports to the Office of Personnel Management

Workshifting Benefits: The Bottom Line

Half-time home-based work among those with compatible jobs could save employers over $10,000 per employee per year—the result of increased productivity, reduced facility costs, lowered absenteeism, and  reduced  turnover. The cumulative benefit to U.S. companies would exceed $400 billion a year.

Top 10 Resons to Telecommute

• No Office Politics

• Reduces the Need for Outsourcing, or "Offshoring" as it's Called Today

• More Environment Friendly

• Wear and Tear on YOU

• Wear and Tear on Car

• Conserve Time, Your Most Precious Asset!

• No More Rushing to Complete Errands During Your "Lunch Hour."

• No More Paying to Work!

• Very Flexible Hours

• Significant Tax Breaks for Independent Contractors, the Most Common Work-from-Home Arrangement.

Saving $750 Billion a Year!

The folks at the Telework Research Network (TRN) have found that if those employees who could telecommute did so just half of the time (roughly the national average for those who already do):

• The nation would save 453 million barrels of oil (57% of Gulf oil imports) — a national savings of $31 billion per year (at $70/barrel)

• The environment would be saved from 84 million tons of greenhouse gases a year

• The energy potential from the gas savings alone would total more than twice what the U.S. produces from all renewable energy source combined.

• National productivity would increase by 6.2 million man-years or $200 billion worth of work each year.

• Businesses would save $194 billion annually in real estate, electricity, absenteeism and turnover.

• Employees would individually save between $2,500 and $11,000 in transportation and work-related costs (not including daycare and elder-care costs)

• Employees would gain back an extra 2.5 weeks worth of time per year — time they’d have otherwise spent commuting.

• Communities would save over $3 billion in highway maintenance because 180 billion fewer miles would be driven each year.

• 150,000 people year would be saved from traffic-related injury or death each year.

• $18 billion a year would be saved in accident-related costs.

In total, that’s an economic impact of over $750 billion a year.

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