By Lauren Frazier
It’s never too early to plan for Virginia’s 2017 Telework Week, coming again next March 6th through 10th. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) and local commuter assistant agency partners are encouraging businesses across Virginia to allow qualifying employees to work from home at least one day during Telework Week.
Participating individuals and businesses can visit teleworkva.org where they can pledge to telework or allow qualifying employees to telework, and be recognized as Telework Champions.
Telework fits perfectly into a growing and competitive business world, offering significant advantages for employers and employees. Working from home even one day a week can provide multiple benefits that include improving employee morale, decreasing turnover, increasing the attractiveness of a company, increasing the pool of prospective employee candidates, decreasing harmful emissions in the environment, and reducing traffic.
Telework Week is also an excellent time for
businesses to start pilot telework programs where they can experience these benefits first-hand. Such programs can test business resilience during the next winter Snowmageddon or summer hurricane season. Other tactics may include integrating a new telework program into your COOP plan to ensure your company’s essential work functions can be continued seamlessly.
Telework!VA is a free online resource that employers can use to help start or expand a formal telework program. On the Telework!VA website, managers and employees can find tips and answers to common questions that will help make telework programs successful.
Northern Virginia companies interested in implementing or expanding a telework program can also obtain free technical assistance and training through the Telework!VA program. Expert staff will provide the support needed to develop a customized telework strategy. Begin exploring your telework program options by visiting the Teleworkva.org/nova website today.