According to a recent article on ITBusiness.ca, there are a lot of benefits to telework, including increased productivity, retention and morale. But if a telework program isn’t rolled out correctly, it can lead to problems and even failure.
At the invitation of Mayor, Narry McCarthy, I made a presentation to the Township of Bonfield Council at the Tuesday March 13th regular Council meeting regarding our level of connectedness including a review of xDSL and wireless broadband access and our excellent suitability to become a leading telework community. I really appreciate the warm welcome and strong support the presentation received. We agreed to focus on a number of initiatives going forward including addressing existing gaps in broadband access, the promotion of telework and the desire to implement Wi-MAX access technology in our community. More later …
According to a recent article in the North Bay Nugget “a Conservative provincial government would develop a plan to move about 10 per cent of Ontario’s civil service jobs out of Toronto and into rural Northern communities, says Opposition leader John Tory.” The article doesn’t mention telework specifically but one would hope that a plan such as this would include many telework positions. While NorthernTelework.ca is a-political this sort thinking is definitely headed in the right direction.
Update: According to a news report I listened to this morning on EZ Rock North Bay, North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce President Mark King is calling for the immediate relocation of these jobs.