Towson-based toolmaker Black & Decker is developing what it calls a WAH policy - work at home - for a September rollout.
"In those cases where the manager and the employee agree that the employee can work effectively from home, we are setting up more of those arrangements," says Don Lee, vice president of information technology.
Some companies, such as Baltimore-based Constellation Energy and Sparks-based spice purveyor McCormick, have had informal telework policies for a long time, worked out between boss and employee. McCormick is adopting a companywide policy and promoting it to eligible employees, says spokesman Jim Lynn.
Baltimore-based money manager T. Rowe Price is one of the few companies to measure telework patterns. Only 3.5 percent of employees work part time or full time from home, but "we're definitely seeing a growing number of associates taking advantage of teleworking, and we know part of that increase is due to the growing cost of commuting," says Price spokesman Brian Lewbart.
If you live in Howard County and your car gets 25 miles to a gallon, you're paying $130 a month to commute to downtown Baltimore. But working from home won't just help you and your company. Telecommuting spins off "external" benefits such as decreased traffic and lower pollution.
Policymakers and business leaders such as the Greater Baltimore Committee and the Maryland Chamber of Commerce should be all over this. But these groups are still focused on lobbying for new, expensive roads when it won't cost anything to promote telework except smart thinking and communication.
We've already bought and paid for the most expensive part: Maryland's broadband network. This year Forbes magazine ranked Baltimore as the country's fifth-most-wired city.
People have been talking about telecommuting for years. "But the situation now is very different from what it was 10, 15 or 20 years ago, when there wasn't such a widespread installed base of equipment that's suited for telework," says consultant Gordon. "Now, it's sort of a no-brainer for people to spend a day or two a week at home without it being a big deal."
Especially when you consider two other Maryland characteristics: nightmare commutes and a high proportion of technology, sales, writing and analysis jobs that don't have to be done on site. No pain. All gain. It's the cheapest and most effective response to the energy crisis we can muster.
jay.hancock@baltsun.com
