Creating a 'model'

There are as many forms of telework as there are organisations implementing the practice. Defining an appropriate model should be the first step you take towards achieving your target benefits, while minimising the potential challenges.

Some organisations might allow all staff to work off-site whenever they feel like it. Others might have half their staff teleworking at home up to three days every week. Some might allow only five staff to work in a small telecentre two days a week. Others might be more restrictive.

A ‘telework model’ should reflect what you think your telework initiative will look like in three years. When deciding what your telework initiative will look like, you will need to think about many things, including:

• The number of employees who will be involved and the tasks that they perform;
• The frequency that they will telework and for how long each week or day;
• Whether home offices or a telecentre (or other location) will be used;
• The technology that will be involved;
• Whether the initiative will be supplemented with desk-sharing (‘hot-desking’) in the main office; and
• How you will attract employees to take up the telework option.

It is a good idea to consider any case studies and to talk to other companies that might already have a telework arrangement. They may have suggestions and ideas you could include in preparing your model.

It is also a good idea to get external advice from an experienced professional at this stage. He or she could have invaluable suggestions on how to develop and implement at successful telework initiative.