The Future of Business: Telecommuting商務發展的未來：遠程辦公

文／梅拉妮·皮諾拉 譯／唐毅

By Melanie Pinola

The Future of Business: Telecommuting商務發展的未來：遠程辦公

文／梅拉妮·皮諾拉 譯／唐毅

ByMelanie Pinola

Remote work arrangements (or telecommuting programs) offer significant benefits to employers. Here are a few of the biggest reasons why telecommuting is the future of business:

1. Save office space and reduce costs

Companies can save thousands on office space and parking for each employee that works remotely (the Telework Coalition estimates the cost of office space for the average worker to be $10,000 per year). Future growth would also not be limited by available office space.

2. Enhance employee productivity and work/life balance

Several studies and reports on telecommuting provide evidence of 15%—45% gains in productivity when employees work from home.Employees become more productive when they telecommute because there are fewer distractions, minimal(if any) socializing, and less stress.Telecommuters also usually have a greater sense of control over and responsibility towards their work, which definitely contributes to a better work product and satisfaction.

遠程工作安排（也稱遠程辦公計劃）讓雇主受益良多。以下內容說明了為何遠程辦公是未來商務發展的方向。

1.節約辦公空間，降低成本

每位遠程辦公的員工都能為公司節約價值數以千計的辦公空間和停車空間（遠程工作聯盟估計，平均每位員工每年可節約1萬美元）。有無辦公空間亦不會影響公司未來的發展。

2.提高效率，平衡工作與生活

有關遠程辦公的幾項研究和報告提供的證據證明，雇員在家工作，效率可提高15%—45%。遠程辦公，雇員工作時干擾更少，社交活動最少（如果還有社交的話），壓力也更小，于是他們的效率就提高了。實行遠程工作，雇員通常能更好地掌控工作，更有責任心。這無疑能提高工作績效，提升對工作的滿意度。

3. Reduce absenteeism and help maintain operations

Telecommuters and mobile workers1mobile worker指不是一直坐在辦公室工作的雇員，如銷售代理、采購人員等。can work in bad weather, when children are home sick or during school closings,and in other instances where regular employees might instead take a personal or sick day. Reducing unscheduled absenteeism can save large employers over $1 million per year and increase staff morale overall.

Telework programs also enable both large and small companies to maintain their operations during times of emergency, severe weather events,or when there are concerns over health epidemics (e.g., swine flu).

3.減少缺勤，助力運營

遠程工作者和移動工作者在天氣惡劣、孩子生病在家或孩子不上學等情況下，均可以照常工作。遇到這些情況或其他情況，固定上班的員工則可能請事假或病假。總的說來，減少非計劃類的缺勤每年可以為大企業主節約一百萬美元以上的費用，雇員干勁也更大。

無論大公司還是小公司，實行遠程工作計劃都能幫助他們在遇到緊急情況、惡劣天氣，或在發生流行病而危及健康的情況下（如發生豬流感時），維持公司正常運轉。

4. Increase employee retention and help attract new staff

Happier employees are usually better employees, and telecommuting definitely increases employee job satisfaction and, thus, loyalty. Telework programs also help companies retain employees with common circumstances such as needing to care for sick family members, starting a new family,or needing to relocate for personal reasons. Reducing turnover saves on considerable recruiting costs.

Telecommuting is also an excellent incentive when looking for additional skilled staff in occupations that are high in demand. One-third of CFOs in one survey said that a telecommuting program was the best way to attract top talent.

5. Help save the environment by eliminating commuting time

Companies can do their part in promoting a greener world through establishing remote work programs.Fewer commuters means fewer cars on the road, which translates to less air pollution and reduced fuel consumption.The Climate Group indicates that telecommuting and technologies such as online video conferencing decrease tons of carbon dioxide each year.

All in all, it looks like telecommuting benefits everyone.

4.減少員工流失，有利于吸引新員工

通常，雇員越開心，工作就越出色。顯然，實行遠程辦公的雇員對工作更滿意，因此更不愿離開公司另謀高就。通常雇員辭職，大多是需要照顧生病的家人、組建新的家庭或因個人原因需要搬家等，遠程工作安排也有助于公司留住他們。減少人員流動可節約大筆招聘費用。

當公司的緊俏職位需要招聘技術嫻熟的雇員時，遠程工作也是一個非常誘人的因素。在一個調查中，三分之一的首席財務官都說，遠程辦公計劃是吸引頂尖人才的最佳手段。

5.取消通勤，有助環境

通過建立遠程辦公計劃，公司也可為推動建設一個更加綠色環保的世界發揮自己的作用。上下班人數減少，意味著路上車輛更少，從而減少空氣污染，降低燃料消耗。氣候組織（The Climate Group）表明，遠程辦公或線上視頻會議等技術每年可減少數以噸計的二氧化碳排放。

總之，遠程工作似乎讓所有人受益。

（譯者單位：東華大學外語學院）