September15, 2014

4 Great Examples of Telework’s Impact

by: Brie Weiler Reynolds

As champions of telecommuting and flexible work options for all, we certainly don’t have to tell TelCoa readers about the benefits of telework–we all know and love them. But as organizations like ours work to spread awareness of, and support for, flexible ways of working, it’s really important to remember the individuals for whom we work–the millions of professionals whose lives would be positively impacted by more access to telework and flexible jobs.

At 1 Million for Work Flexibility, we hear daily from supporters about why they support the expansion of flexible work options for all. Here are four great examples of why work flexibility, including telework, is vitally important to individuals, to companies, and to society.

A Population of Caregivers

As our population ages, more people are becoming caregivers for their elderly family members. And millions of people also act as caregivers for disabled family members. Flexible work options and telecommuting help these people tend to their caregiving responsibilities while still earning an income. For example, Tressa in Missouri is a 1 Million supporter who needs to work from home so she can be available should her disabled spouse need help with basic tasks. And she wants to be able to, “live in rural area without sacrificing pay scale or incurring astronomical commuting time expenses.”

The Environmental Impacts

With the stunningly bad United Nations climate report released recently, it’s more important than ever to find ways to make big impacts, and telework is exactly one such way. Individuals are absolutely aware of the environmental benefits of telecommuting, Christopher from Georgia summed it up succinctly when he joined the 1 Million movement: “Why do I supposed work flexibility? It reduces stress on employees, the environment, and the economy.”

Choosing Between Work and Family

So many professionals are forced to choose between having a successful career and being there for their families. For anyone with kids, the pull between work and family is a frustrating one, and one that telecommuting can help eliminate. Jocelyn from Canada supports work flexibility, “so I can be there for my family while being an effective worker.” With telecommuting, these two goals don’t need to be mutually exclusive. Telework actually helps us do both, and do each well.

Helping People Stay Healthy

Heather from Georgia knows that health issues make it very difficult to maintain or improve your health when you don’t have control over your daily life. She says, “The idea of work flexibility is something that could change the health of all Americans. As a person with a weak immune system, I often end up using well more than my sick days, but during those days I could easily work from home without a cost to my employer. The trouble is, I don’t have the option. So, I am doing something about it.”

1 Million for Work Flexibility is thrilled to have TelCoa as a valued supporter, and we invite you to join us in spreading awareness for flexible work options like telecommuting. Add your voice to those of Christopher, Jocelyn, Tressa, Heather, and the thousands of supporters who want to see telecommuting options grow and thrive.

Brie Weiler Reynolds is the Director of Online Content at FlexJobs and a contributing writer for 1 Million for Work Flexibility, the first national initiative to bring people together and create a collective voice in support of work flexibility. If you value flexible work options, join 1 Million for Work Flexibility to voice your support for work flexibility for all.