Phone Forum
February 21, 2002:
Total Rewards Management and Telecommuting Trends
One of employers' top concerns today is attracting and retaining top
talent, and telecommuting is becoming a key means in accomplishing this
task. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held the Commuter
Choice Leadership Initiative's first "phone forum" on February
21st, 2002, featuring guest speaker Lenny Sanicola, Total Rewards Project
Manager for WorldatWork. Sanicola described the value of telecommuting
as a "business solution" to the challenging economic environment
that many employers are currently experiencing. "Human resources
leaders no longer consider telecommuting a soft benefit," says Sanicola.
During the forum, callers also exchanged ideas on additional commuter
incentives and employer tracking methods.
Featured speaker:
Lenny Sanicola, CCP, CBP, CEBS, SPHR, GRP is a Total Rewards Project
Manager at WorldatWork. WorldatWork is a global, not-for-profit professional
association of more than 26,000 compensations, benefits and human resources
professionals. It is dedicated to knowledge and leadership in compensation,
benefits and total rewards disciplines associated with attracting, retaining
and motivating employees.
Telecommuting Benefits
Attracting and Retaining Employees
Studies have shown that telecommuting positively influences recruiting
and retention, which can yield significant business benefits. In many
cases, telecommuting is able to save employers money by avoiding costs
associated with recruiting, replacing, and training workers to fill vacancies.
A good example of this is in the Washington State Attorney General's
Office. They offer telecommuting on a case-by-case basis and it has been
successful especially when offered to attorneys with young children. The
attorneys reported that telecommuting helps balance their work and family
lives.
EPA's Ann Arbor office has a "Flexi Place Policy," allowing
employees to work out of the office, which has yielded positive results.
Weathering The Economic Storm
A survey performed by WorldatWork revealed that a majority of workplaces
are continuing to offer, as well as implement, work-life benefits, such
as telecommuting, despite the economic downturn and the tragedy of September
11th. Work-life benefits are considered more important than ever before,
and telecommuting has become an increasingly popular benefit. This survey,
in addition to other WorldatWork resources, is available at www.worldatwork.org.
Commuter Incentives
Cycling and Walking Benefits
When creating new incentives for employees to choose commuting options
other than driving alone, the idea of compensating employees who bike
or walk to work surfaces. Northwest Farm Credit Services, based in Washington,
pays employees $1 every time they commute by some other means than driving
alone. If employees participate at least 50 percent of the time that they
commute to and from work in a month, they receive a stipend up to $25.
Ingram Micro of California also provides their employees with daily incentives
when biking or walking to work. Employees receive their compensation in
their paycheck.
Tracking Employee Commute Habits
Accurately and efficiently tracking how and when employees commute to
and from work can be rather difficult, not to mention, costly. However,
some Commuter Choice Employers have found ways to work around this arduous
task.
For instance, Ingram Micro has taken a technological approach in tracking
its employees' commute habits. At present, the company is creating an
"in-house" online tracking database system using PeopleSoft
software. Ingram Micro's new tracking system would eliminate the need
for outside vendor services to help record and maintain employee-commuting
patterns. As a result, significant cost savings are generated and database
information is readily accessible to the employer.
Additionally, Northwest Farm Credit Services says using expense reports
has been a tracking method that has worked quite well for the company.
Contact information for presenter:
Lenny Sanicola, CCP, CBP, CEBS, SPHR, GRP
Project Manager, Total Rewards Content
WorldatWork
Phone: 480-348-7212
Fax: 480-483-8352
Email: lsanicola@worldatwork.org
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