NorthernTelework.ca

Fiona Barry sees absolutely no reason to quit her full-time job with Metasoft Systems Inc. and settle into the “golden” years of retirement.

After all, Ms. Barry — who was hired by the Vancouver-based firm nine years ago at 58 — has the best of both worlds. She not only earns a full-time salary, but rises early most mornings and takes a short walk to her home office, where she works as a sales account manager and takes in a lovely view from her office window.

Telecommuting is back on workers’ radars in a big way these days, thanks to gas prices that are a whopping 30% higher this summer than last.

Wannabe telecommuters are lining up outside their bosses’ offices with work-from-home plans in hand, and many of them could get their wish this time around: According to WorldatWork, an association of human resource professionals, 40% more employers are offering telework programs this year than last.

A Hamilton councillor is proposing that some municipal employees should work from home in order to cut back on the city’s energy costs.

Sam Merulla says with the city’s $7 million deficit — half of which is related to increased energy costs — there’s no need to pay to house employees whose work could be measured and completed at home.

He says he will introduce a notice of motion asking city staff to examine which employees could work from home.

Merulla cited Ontario Works social workers, as well as planners and inspectors, as positions which could be suited to home-based work.

He said social workers who do home visits are on the road basically every day and the city is paying their mileage on top of office costs.

A growing number of Canadian workers will be dialling, rather than driving, into work, according to a recent survey. More than two-thirds (70 per cent) of executives polled said it is common for their companies’ employees to work off-site. Moreover, 74 per cent of managers said they expect the number of employees who work remotely to increase in the next five years.

The study was conducted by an independent research firm and developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. The survey is based on telephone interviews with 100 senior executives among the largest companies in Canada.