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The impact of teleworking – the views of businesses

Whilst it was seen earlier that most individuals had found teleworking a positive experience, after examining the responses given it is perhaps not surprising to see that businesses had gained more than individuals from teleworking.

Overall, the Sensis® Business Index found that 73 per cent of SMEs who had teleworking employees had found it to have had a positive impact on their business. A further 26 per cent reported that they had not noticed any real impact, and only one per cent reported having had a negative experience from having their employees telework.

Again, the reason as to why teleworking had been so positive for businesses related to flexibility and productivity. Twenty-two per cent noted that teleworking had given them the ability to be able to access information from anywhere, no longer limiting the sphere of their business to an office. Seventeen per cent noted that it had improved their productivity, with an additional number reporting that it had saved them time.

The survey reported that 16 per cent of SMEs where teleworking had a positive impact felt that it was a necessary part of how they did business, with 13 per cent reporting improvement in communications. In line with the improved business performance seen earlier in this report, ten per cent reported increased sales as a positive impact of teleworking, with nine per cent noting that they had made savings through teleworking and seven per cent noting better customer satisfaction.

There was also a range of responses from business operators pointing to benefits to their business from increased employee satisfaction. With the May 2005 Sensis® Business Index finding 13 per cent of SMEs in general reporting difficulties finding quality staff, and with this problem at record levels, it is interesting to note that SMEs saw teleworking as providing better conditions for their employees. These ranged from more flexibility to increased satisfaction and for the businesses, more ease in being able to contact their employees. It is interesting to note that the May 2005 Sensis® Business Index found that a slightly lower percentage of SMEs who had teleworking staff (11 per cent) had reported difficulties finding staff than SMEs on average (13 per cent).

Only one per cent of those SMEs that had teleworking employees reported having a negative impact on their business from teleworking. The only reason given for the negative impact was that they could not effectively manage staff that were working from home.

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• Document ID: 33115 |
• Last modified: 5 February 2008, 3:27pm