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Telework Fuels Productivity and Cuts Costly Gas Consumption; Smart Strategies for Fighting the High Cost of Gas and Increasing the Bottom Line
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- July 1, 2004 -- Gas prices are not only testing our wallets these days, they're also testing the way we work. With gas hovering at $2.25 a gallon for regular in many states, cost-conscious businesses and workers who depend on cars for long distance travel and commuting, need to develop alternative strategies for enabling less frequent use of their cars.
Teleworking (work independent of location) can reduce time spent on the road and dependence on gas. The number of employed Americans who work from home during business hours at least one day per month has increased by nearly 40 percent since 2001. The availability of high speed broadband connections, more efficient technology for accessing computers from remote locations via the Internet, and a desire for a better work/life balance are helping to fuel this teleworking trend.
According to Chuck Wilsker, executive director and co-founder of the Washington, DC-based Telework Coalition, www.telcoa.org, there are several strategies workers can use to lessen their dependence on cars and still be productive:
-- Speak to your employer about working from home one or more days a week. Studies prove that both employees and employers will benefit. In addition to saving on gasoline use, parking expense and wear and tear on cars will be reduced. Employers will have happier and more productive employees, a significant reduction in costs associated with absenteeism, and a much higher rate of employee retention. Plus, having employees who can work at locations other than the office helps prepare for business continuity programs for weather-related emergencies or other workplace disruptions.
-- Secure a dependable high-speed Internet connection. The market is competitive so workers should shop around to get the best deals, being sure to check both national providers such as Cox, Comcast and Time Warner for cable, the major phone companies such as Verizon, SBC, Bell South, Quest or Covad Direct for DSL, or one of the many reputable local providers.
-- Subscribe to a remote access service that will enable you to easily and securely connect to the full contents of your office desktop from home or any remote location. Web-based GoToMyPC is a good choice for remote access to desk-top PCs since it is extremely fast, easy and secure to use, and provides an identical office desktop experience from remote locations. There is also a corporate version that gives IT departments administrative control and monitoring privileges. For a free trial, workers can visit: www.gotomypc.com.
"Teleworking is a smart strategy for businesses of all sizes. Studies indicate benefits to employees and employers in reduced absenteeism, higher productivity, environmental savings on fuel and emissions, and a happier and more satisfied work force," says Wilsker. "Many of the largest companies in the country, including AT&T, IBM, and SUN MICROSYSTEMS have adopted telework programs with great success."
Additional information on telework programs can be found at: http://www.telcoa.org/id42.htm.
About Citrix Online
Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: CTXS), offers the leading Web-based access, support, and collaboration software and services. The division offers Citrix GoToMyPC(R), the easiest-to-use solution for remote, secure, and managed desktop PC access over the Web; Citrix GoToAssist(TM), the most secure, reliable and powerful solution for Web-based technical support and customer collaboration, and Citrix GoToMeeting(TM), the easiest, most secure and cost effective solution for conducting online meetings. Citrix Online products are used by more than 4,900 companies worldwide, including Cisco Systems, Siemens, Intuit, Cablevision and Microsoft Business Solutions. The division is based in Santa Barbara, California, and is on the Web at http://www.gotomypc.com, http://www.gotoassist.com, and http://www.citrix.com.
Citrix(R) is a registered trademark of Citrix Systems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries. GoToMyPC(R), GoToAssist(TM) and GoToMeeting(TM) are registered trademarks or trademarks of Citrix Online LLC in the U.S. and other countries. All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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