| According to Northwestern National Life, | | | | home or other location away from the office. |
| "One-fourth of employees view their jobs as the | | | | According to "Commuting in America" a study for |
| number one stressor in their lives." The National | | | | the National Academies, based mostly on census |
| Institute for Occupational Safety and Health | | | | data, telecommuting, or working from home, is |
| (NIOSH) summarize job stress as "...when the | | | | one of the fastest growing trends. The author of |
| requirements of the job do not match the | | | | the report believes it will only increase in the |
| capabilities, resources or needs of the worker". | | | | future. Fascinating statistics from the July 2006 |
| Stress solutions are numerous, however the | | | | Hudson Highland Group are; (1) 23% of workers |
| NIOSH has been able to concisely summarize | | | | work at home or are given the choice; (2) 59% |
| stress related issues and their solutions. Also, | | | | believe "part-time" teleworking is an appealing |
| stress related statistics, as well as the future of | | | | work situation-(includes 38% who think having the |
| teleworking to resolve this costly issue, paint an | | | | choice to come into to the office or work from |
| overall direction that the employer and employer | | | | home is ideal and 21% who say the best option is |
| are inevitably heading. Here are some fundamental | | | | working at home; (3) 73% rarely or never get |
| stress solutions as outlined by NIOSH: 1) Balance | | | | work done during their commute (despite |
| work and family life, 2) Having a network of | | | | technologies that allow employees to put in time |
| support from friends and co-workers, 3) Being | | | | while heading to and from work) Productivity |
| able to maintain a relaxed and positive outlook. | | | | tools such as being able to remotely access your |
| NIOSH also lists the early warning signs of stress | | | | PC, or hold online meetings, or even use your pc |
| as being: 1) Headaches, 2) Sleep problems, 4) | | | | as a telephone, are options available to employers |
| Having trouble concentrating, 5) Short temper, 6) | | | | and employees who wish to implement a |
| Upset stomach, 7) Dissatisfied with job, 8) Morale | | | | work-at-home program. Once implemented |
| that's low. NIOSH has listed a summary of items | | | | companies must then learn to manage the virtual |
| to help Prevent Job Stress: 1) Building awareness | | | | workforce and acquire tools needed for the |
| of Job stress, such as the causes, the costs, and | | | | employee to stay connected. To summarize, in |
| possible solutions, 2) Getting top management | | | | 2005 44% of US Companies offered some type |
| committed to supporting a program that solves | | | | of telecommuting option, that's up from 32% in |
| stress issues, 3) Allowing the employee to be | | | | 2001. The International Telework Association and |
| involved in stress solution programs, 4) Using Job | | | | Council (ITAC), estimates that there will be over |
| Stress Consultants or hold in-office training. Solving | | | | 40 million teleworkers in the US by 2010. Thus, it's |
| work related stress issues of today must involve | | | | safe to say that practical job solutions for work |
| thinking outside the box. Some companies have | | | | stress will involve the use of teleworking tools. |
| already started seeking solutions by implementing | | | | Author, Barbara Cipak, Site Owner of |
| flexible work programs for their employees, such | | | | My-Telework-Tools featuring Tools such as, |
| as teleworking options. As per the Telework | | | | Remote PC, and other Virtual Office Tools for the |
| Coalition, more than 22.2 million americans | | | | Mobile Worker & Small Business. |
| Teleworked in 2005, meaning they worked at | | | | |