Telework holds the promise of improved efficiency for employers -- and improved quality of life for employees -- in metro Atlanta. To many businesses, the concept might seem like it's still light years away. And for some job functions, telework is not an appropriate strategy. But computer technology and quantum leaps in Internet connectivity have put telework programs within reach for a growing number of employers in the region.

Consider the rise of broadband Internet access over the past few years. According to Scarborough Research, 56% of Atlanta households with Internet access now have broadband (DSL or high-speed) connections. That's one of the reasons Forbes magazine recognized Atlanta as the nation's most wired region for telework in each of the past two years.

While more employers are looking into telework as part of a comprehensive workplace strategy -- The Clean Air Campaign presently has 40 active projects with Atlanta employers -- there are some common misperceptions about telework that persist:

1. Employees who telework do so five days a week.
Only rarely are there situations where employees solely telework. For the majority of our employer Partners, their telework programs have employees working remotely just 1-2 days a week. The remaining workdays are spent in the office.

2. If an employer starts a telework program, they must allow all employees to participate.
If telework were considered to be an employee benefit, then everyone would have to be eligible. But The Clean Air Campaign has always promoted telework as a business strategy – and a privilege. As such, the most diligent and capable workers are the ones who should pilot a program.

3. Employees who telework are less productive than their office counterparts.
This concern is common among managers who feel that if they cannot see the work being done, they have fewer assurances their staffers are being productive. Studies show teleworkers are typically 10 to 30 percent more productive because of the reduced number of interruptions encountered, compared to a normal day in the office.

While most employees would jump at the chance to start teleworking, employers have to take time to perform their due diligence and evaluate whether telework makes good business sense in their organization. The Clean Air Campaign stands ready with information and experience gleaned from assisting 80 employers with telework programs, impacting more than 6,000 employees in the past five years.

We’re co-hosting a Lunch and Learn event with the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce on September 4 focusing on telework and the Georgia Telework Tax Credit. If you are a manager contemplating telework for your team, register for this event … and post a reply here to let us know what your questions or concerns are about introducing telework into your operation.

How many meetings have you driven to in the past week? Are you scheduling more conference calls or finding other ways to communicate to stay off the roads (and away from the gas station)? This week the spotlight is on Web conferencing. In two days, we’ve got a free lunch and learn seminar that might offer even more relief to you or your employer. We offer a series of free training seminars annually, but this is the first time we’ve offered this subject.

And if you think it’s just for offices – think again. The Associated Press recently reported on a University of Oklahoma alumnus who will be co-teaching a class from Iraq via Web conference. TV correspondent Mike Boettcher will be embedded with U.S. soldiers in Iraq for 15 months and will teach the “War and Media” class this fall from the front lines. But I digress…

Our July 10 training seminar will be led by Henry E. Liebling, a consultant with 20+ years experience, and promises to teach you the best practices for holding a meeting without ever leaving your office - and how Web conferencing can improve productivity.

We’ve also got two other training seminars that may be of interest later in 2008. On September 4, we’ll be going over the Georgia Telework Tax Credit, and on November 10, we’ll present the “State of the Commute.” But I’ll remind you about those when they get a little closer.

If you can’t join us at DeKalb Technical College on Thursday, check back soon for the session recap. If you are joining us, great. I’ll see you there!