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No Hot Air: Telecommuting Saves At the Pump

Posted by Gayle Kesten Monday, Jun 23, 2008, 01:25 PM ET

Working from home, I like to joke that I'm going nowhere fast.

That said, I'm saving a serious $125 a month in gas versus the days I drove to the office. My last fill-up was four weeks to the day since I last flirted with an empty tank.

That's not only good news for my personal wallet, but for the economy as well. A story on the Management-Issues Web site cites a new survey of 400 workers by telecommuting advocate Telework Exchange, which found "encouraging those who can work from home to do so for two days a week, rather than commute into work, would save 9.7 billion gallons of gas or $38.2 billion."

Interestingly, 90 percent of those polled said they can do some of their jobs from home, yet only one-third of them take advantage of the opportunity. (Hmmmm.)

I hope those workers at least consider carpooling to save a few bucks. To wit, earlier this month CIO posted an article about another survey, this one of 539 U.S. workers by staffing firm Robert Half International, that found 44 percent of those who said soaring gas prices have affected their commutes have turned to ridesharing.

Some are exploring the notion of a four-day workweek. The Wall Street Journal cites a handful of places, including my own neighboring county here on Long Island, that are considering such a schedule for public employees. In Michigan's Oakland County, assuming gas stays at $4 a gallon and workers use two gallons for each round trip to work...the savings from having 800 workers commuting only four days a week could save them a total of about $300,000 over the course of a year, according to county exec L. Brooks Patterson.

Make no mistake: Business can benefit as well. "Studies have shown that telework improves worker productivity anywhere from 15% to 35% on telework days," according to ChiefHomeOfficer.com, which outlines 10 questions for managers "keen on implementing telework for your team" to evaluate. Allowing employees to telecommute also cuts down on office costs (rent, infrastructure, etc.), attracts top-notch recruits who desire flexibility, and can keep a business up and running should crisis strike (think 9/11).

Do you telecommute on a regular basis? If so, how much would you estimate you're saving at the pump? As a manager, has your bottom line benefitted from allowing your employees to telecommute?

6/24 UPDATE: Just stumbled across another worthwhile read from the WSJ: "10 Ways to Save on Gas for Your Business (and Life)."

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