Slow uptake for teleworking
CAREER Australian companies lagging when it comes to remote working.
Technology advancements may be changing how a workplace is defined, but Australia seems to be slow on the uptake when it comes to teleworking, according to the latest white paper by recruiting company Hays. Titled Tomorrow’s Workforce, the white paper found that
working remotely, or teleworking, is becoming more acceptable by employers and employees and allows for greater flexibility in who works when – and where they work will no longer be an issue. But the paper says Australia is lagging behind many other
countries when it comes to teleworking. In the US, for instance, 11 million people reportedly telecommute at least one day of the week. But according to the more than 870 employers and candidates surveyed for the white paper, fewer than 10 per cent of employers in Australia make telecommuting available to all employees. Of employers who do offer teleworking, only 2.9 per cent are
prepared to recruit people from a broader geographical area as a result, although 51.2 per cent will consider widening their search base for certain roles, says the white paper. “It is not just businesses that are supporting teleworking,” says
Hays Office Support regional director Lisa Morris. “The attitudes of candidates toward teleworking also continue to change, with 23.5 per cent indicating they would not work for an organisation that didn’t allow at least occasional teleworking.”
But while technology is providing more flexible working, it is
also perceived as taking up personal time. In the Hays’ survey, four in 10 employees believe that using portable technology for work eats into their personal life. “It seems that portable technology such as smartphones, phablets and tablets is eating into the boundaries between work
Not only senior staff but employees at all levels experience this blurring of work
and home life
and home,” says Morris. “The adoption of new technology means it is not only senior staff but employees at all levels who experience this blurring of work and home life. “The question this poses for employers is what employees
expect in return. If using technology for work purposes in personal time is becoming more accepted, and Wi-Fi and wireless devices are available in most locations, even on holidays, then employers need to ensure their staff achieve work/life balance in other ways. “This includes flexible office hours, time at work to access social
media sites, or the ability to use work equipment for personal reasons. Employers need to address these issues and create a policy that works for them and their staff.”
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