Percentage of single drivers is down. Transit ridership is up. Telecommuting is up. (Reston: design, office)

[ghett61]

Originally Posted by OrangeFish

Not really. It depends on the nature of the work. With hardware encryption and VPN, it's not so tough to do any longer.

I only wish they allowed that in secret networks. The ones I have worked on are completely separate networks without any connection to the outside world at all.

[normie]

I'm pleased that transit ridership is up, considering that they keep raising the fares. On the news they show people complaining about it, but I guess the complaints aren't enough to keep them from using it.

[Yankeesfan]

Originally Posted by CAVA1990

And in today's world, your boss, subordinates and co-workers may very well be spread out around the country so going to an office may provide no benefit of work group interaction. The company I work for is actively encouraging work from home to reduce real estate costs. Surprisingly there are a lot of people who resist it. Perhaps the office provides a refuge from a not so desirable home life or they just love sitting in a cube all day.

Or they still have children at home who would be a distraction -- either while they were trying to work on the computer or in the background if they spend a lot of time on the phone. And many don't spend all of their time at their own offices, they need to be out frequently meeting with people, or have people who come in to see them. Still, telecommuting is a great option for those who can do it, and those who can telecommute are helpful to those who can't, since they take some of the traffic off the road or help reduce crowding on Metro.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by ghett61

I only wish they allowed that in secret networks. The ones I have worked on are completely separate networks without any connection to the outside world at all.

Telecommute centers work well for those instances where secret clearance work is conducted.

[normie]

I just read in the paper today that US Rep. Frank Wolf is promoting the Teleworks Improvement Act of 2010, which is designed to "make it easier for federal employees to wok from home by designating telework coordinators in federal agencies."

Wolf and Gerry Connolly (who is also sponsoring the bill) claim it would dramatically increase the number of federal workers teleworking.

Well, I'll believe it when I see it, but it sounds intriguing. I hope it includes more than just coordinators, however.

[ajzjmsmom]

Originally Posted by normie

I just read in the paper today that US Rep. Frank Wolf is promoting the Teleworks Improvement Act of 2010, which is designed to "make it easier for federal employees to wok from home by designating telework coordinators in federal agencies."

Wolf and Gerry Connolly (who is also sponsoring the bill) claim it would dramatically increase the number of federal workers teleworking.

Well, I'll believe it when I see it, but it sounds intriguing. I hope it includes more than just coordinators, however.

I really wish they would figure something out, the majority of the work my husband does is reviewing documents online with a meeting thrown in now and then, it sure would make his life easier if he could work from home.

[normie]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

I really wish they would figure something out, the majority of the work my husband does is reviewing documents online with a meeting thrown in now and then, it sure would make his life easier if he could work from home.

I totally agree. It seems like such a good idea, especially in these days of tight government budgets when there's not enough extra $$$ for transportation projects.

[normie]

Just think how beneficial it would be for our collective mental health if more people were working from a place like this:

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by ajzjmsmom

I really wish they would figure something out, the majority of the work my husband does is reviewing documents online with a meeting thrown in now and then, it sure would make his life easier if he could work from home.

I do the same thing in my line of work with my agency, so I can understand the frustration.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by normie

Just think how beneficial it would be for our collective mental health if more people were working from a place like this:

As opposed to the view from my office of a construction zone, a Wendy's, parking lots, an adult store, and a strip mall.