Microsoft helps remote workers

12 March 2010

Remote-working programmes can benefit employees and employers through increased productivity, reduced overhead and happier workers, according to a recent survey from Microsoft.

Sixty percent of respondents to the Microsoft Telework survey ‒ conducted among 3,600 employees in 36 cities nationwide ‒ say they are actually more productive and efficient when working remotely.

But, by and large, employers aren’t catching on. Only 41 per cent of those surveyed work for companies with established remote-working policies, and just 15 per cent believe their company supports flexible work arrangements. Despite a wealth of new technologies that can facilitate collaboration among workers no matter where they are, employers are still concerned about whether they’re getting the most from employees.

It’s easy to see how a quiet environment can lead to better concentration, but how can employees really work more hours in a day? The obvious answer, say experts, is that since remote workers are not spending significant time commuting, they have more time during regular business hours to focus on work.

Another answer, suggested by Microsoft’s research, is that they simply take their work with them wherever they go. With smartphones, telepresence, teleconferencing and instant messaging (IM), work is increasingly about staying connected all the time, as opposed to being physically present for part of each day.

Equipment is one big area where employers often skimp, but would be wise not to, says Lesonsky. Beyond providing laptops, outfitting remote workers with the right computers, software, broadband access and telephone equipment helps ensure they can do their jobs most effectively and stay in touch with colleagues — a major concern for many remote workers that also is highlighted in Microsoft’s survey.

Microsoft has been steadily building technologies over the past few years specifically to enable remote collaboration, going beyond IM to offer a wide variety of ways to keep workers in touch.

Cloud computing and Microsoft Online Services can provide a secure remote-working technology infrastructure. Unified communications technologies build on Microsoft Exchange with IM, voice over Internet protocol, voice, telepresence, videoconferencing and message delivery to a broad range of devices. And soon, the recently announced Windows Phone 7 Series will enable people to work with Microsoft Office documents from anywhere.