
(Article brought to you by WindRiver Strategies)
Melissa Mayer and Yahoo may be making the headlines for her in-office policies (and we can debate whether she’s right or wrong), but the fact is, Yahoo is like a salmon swimming upstream on the virtual workforce and telecommuting debate.
These days, videoconferencing, intranets, and emails are able to keep teams connected and united without having to be in the physical location. Studies are showing more than ever that professionals favor alternative work practices. According to a national
study recently commissioned by WorldCom, the following statistics were found:
A Virtual Way of Life
•More than 2/3 of American workers have engaged in virtual work
•46% of American workers are involved in virtual work at least once a week
•14% of the US workforce telecommutes every day
Managing Virtually
•31% of American workers work in a virtual management structure
Evolving Policies – More Companies are Going Virtual
•27% of people work for organizations with formal policies encouraging virtual work
•48% of American workers work for organizations that allow virtual work practices, even if no formal policy exists
The Bottom Line – Virtual Work Boosts Productivity
•91% of those surveyed say virtual work saves their company time and money
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Virtual work, enabled by digital technology and the web, have allowed organizations to get more done in more spread-out locations and with a more diverse workforce. It allows companies, leaders, and teams to work more seamlessly and quickly. However, there are challenges. (Challenges coming in part 2)