Green Leaf Report

Today for the first time, US gas prices reached an average of $4/gallon.

Over the past 15 years, many companies have been moving more of their content onto web platforms and secure electronic processes.  The companies that have embraced these developments are well positioned now to reduce operational costs and employee out-of-pocket expenses by minimizing their exposure to rising oil prices.  A well thought out telecommuting process can now be a competitive advantage.

On the employee side, a telecommuting option can be a strong recruiting and retaining tool. In the last decade, inexpensive housing built further from the city centers has enticed many employees into longer commutes.  Now many are stuck with houses that they cannot sell, and gas bills that are devouring larger portions of their budgets.  Add in the increasing costs of food and other staples due to the rising fuel costs, and the sum could be employees that are becoming so stressed about meeting bills that they are distracted from their jobs.

On the employer side, allowing employees to telecommute to meetings instead of paying for flights for face-to-face meetings can save on increasing plane fares.  Letting employees work from home can reduce energy and rental expenses in building costs, if less space is needed.  Retaining the best employees with flexible working practices can save on search costs for replacing experienced employees.

When times are tight, the companies that emerge the strongest are the ones that retain talent, reduce costs, add efficiencies and continue to grow.  This could be the first recession where telecommuting can be used as a tool to meet all of these initiatives in savvy companies, and I’m interested to see what happens.