Speakers at the recent Telework 2000 conference in London emphasized the psychological and organizational aspects of teleworking, rather than the technology. They stated that employees must be taught to cope with information overload, importance of self-management, and need to maintain the balance between work and life. The conference highlighted the way teleworking can bring employment opportunities to those often excluded from the workforce such as mothers and those unable to travel to work. However, it was also pointed out that new ways of working could cause insecurity and social isolation.
Companies were warned to give full support to teleworking employees. Michael Viertler of Hewlett Packard advised, “You should not underestimate the psychological impact of teleworking; the isolation and the effort required to keep in contact. E-mail is great but don’t forget to use the phone. Teleworkers have a tendency to work excessively and it requires self-discipline to stop when it’s right to stop.”
The new ways of working are causing furniture companies to find new products and forcing property and design professionals to re-think their offerings. According to Josina Floor of the furniture company Steelcase, physical office space is no longer a way of structuring work. “The office is being re-engineered as a place for interaction, as a way of reinforcing corporate identity and values in a world of free agents.”
Based on a report from i-FM Update
