Articles
The Effects of Telecommuting on the Environment
by The Scalers Offshore Development Teams In IndiaThe corona pandemic has prompted a sea change in the way businesses to operate, the way people work — and how we live our lives. The commute, once a daily activity used to prepare yourself for the day ahead, has for many been relegated to what seems a bygone era, replaced en-masse by the telecommute. In actuality, once things do indeed get back to normal it’s almost certain we’ll see a return to commuting — perhaps it won’t be quite as frequent as before, with many organisations confirming plans to keep significant sections of their workforce on a permanent work-from-home basis. And, an even larger number of organisations stating that they intend to offer more flexibility to staff, now that it’s clear productivity isn’t hindered by lack of in-office hours.
More telecommuters, less polluters
What are the effects of telecommuting on the environment? Research conducted by Global Workforce Analytics estimates that working from home half the week can reduce emissions by 54 million tons every year. Moreover, with people spending more time at home there’s a significant decrease in litter and excessive fast food consumption — although of course there are negative effects on the retail service sector job market.
One of the reasons climate change experts have faced difficulties in getting people to change their habits is that the impact is hard to see. However, even in the early days of the response to Covid-19, we all saw a dramatic reduction in traffic and congestion — and therefore, pollution. As let’s face it, not everyone on the road drives a Tesla! While sustainability has not been the primary driver of the telecommute shift, being able to actually see the difference it can make may finally flip the switch for employers — particularly as their younger workforce is committed to an atmosphere of corporate responsibility.
Additionally, with less time spent in the office there’s less waste in terms of paper and plastic as people use digital tools for messaging, taking notes, and sending files. And, having to bear the brunt, financially, of office supplies means employees working from home are more aware of waste.
Effects of telecommuting on the environment: pleasant surprises
There are a few things that we’ve already known for a while now, such as working from home boosting productivity in 77% of people surveyed. The longer-term effects of permanently working from home are yet to be measured on a larger scale, although it’s reasonable to expect findings to reveal themselves in the next six to 12 months. What can we expect? It’s uncertain, although the rise in familiarity with digital communication tools as well as measures put into place to build team spirit in distributed teams may have somewhat lessened some of the negatives surrounding isolation — although it’s, of course, prudent not to jump to any conclusions until solid evidence becomes clear.
On another note, FlexJobs reports that 58 percent of the US workforce will do freelance work by 2027 — dramatic changes both to how we work and also likely to have a large effect on office emissions, since a home setup consumes far less.
Let’s dive deeper know more about the effects of telecommuting on the environment.
Sponsor Ads
About The Scalers 
Offshore Development Teams In India
58 connections, 1 recommendations, 261 honor points.Joined APSense since, May 23rd, 2019, From Bangalore, India.
Created on Nov 17th 2020 06:09. Viewed 165 times.
