Employers encouraged to consider telework a long-term option post-pandemic
AUSTIN, Texas — Many people are desperate for the pandemic to end and for life to get back to normal, but some argue frustrating commutes and long hours in office buildings may not be something worth returning to.
Congestion is returning as more businesses fully open and employers welcome people back to the office, however new results from a traffic survey conducted in March suggest employers have a lot to gain by committing to some form of teleworking.
“It has definitely been a good experience,” says Travis County employee and public information officer Hector Nieto. For more than a year Nieto has mostly worked from home.
“From where I live it takes me an hour to get downtown and an hour to get back during rush hour. Those are two hours a day that I can get back now,” he says. By his count that adds up to 500 hours --equal to 21 days-- in the past year.
“That I can use for enjoying with my family, enjoying for my own personal health or just doing the things I need to do.” Nieto adds.
Last month the non-profit, Movability, asked Central Texans to answer a short minute survey about how their travel patterns have changed in the last year. Results released this month reveal 90 percent of survey participants reported going to the office five days a week pre-pandemic. However, just 32 percent say they still commute daily now. It’s no surprise the survey found most people reporting to a physical workplace during the pandemic were healthcare workers but government employees were a close second.
Travis County is a government employer that’s embraced work-from-home by setting a goal of getting 75 percent of eligible employees teleworking long-term. County commissioner for precinct two, Brigid Shea, says most Travis employees seem to love teleworking and the county auditors found it’s actually increased productivity.
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“It makes sense. People weren't struck in traffic for hours on their way to and from work. They were able to get to work more quickly and do their work,” she explains.
Shea adds, the opportunity to telework has improved work-life balance, reduced vehicle emissions and helped the county save $1.3M.
“By not having everybody packed in the offices we've also saved dramatically on our utility usage,” she says.
They’re all benefits Movability hopes more businesses will embrace.
“I hope that employers take note of that and realize it’s going to help their recruitment and retention to have multiple options available for employees who clearly are going to be more productive if they have this,” says Kate Harrington, outreach and engagement manager at Movability.
Harrington says it doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing approach, explaining if just a percentage of workers continued teleworking part-time it would make a difference in traffic congestion.
Commissioner Shea points out that teleworking can also be an equity issue since it’s not usually an option for people in lower-wage jobs-- which often include people of color. She says Travis County is working to address that inequity in their own workforce.
Not every survey respondent wanted to telework long-term. One anonymous participant said:
“It’s nice that there is less traffic than normal, but I’m very anxious and excited for everyone to go back to their normal life and live a normal life like it was before the start of the pandemic. ”
Another survey participant said:
“I rarely leave home, and I dread going back to the office. I've enjoyed not having to fight Austin traffic. It is so horrific and stressful.”
To see more detailed survey results from the Movability survey, click here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/stories/SM-23W27HYC/
