TELEWORKING: A SOLUTION FOR UTAH'S AIR POLLUTION.

• Author: Bowthorpe, Bailey
• Position: SILICON SLOPES

With a laptop, cell phone and a reliable internet connection, any place you go can be considered an office these days. Teleworking, or working from a remote location outside of a traditional office setting, is becoming more prevalent with advances in technology and innovative business practices. In fact, approximately 20-25 percent of the U.S. workforce teleworks at some frequency.

Even with these advances in technology and flexibility in the business world, more can be done to incentivize teleworking for employees and build it into corporate culture. For Utah businesses, the benefits of teleworking go beyond convenience and flexibility; it can also make a difference for our air quality. That's why leading out on teleworking is the prime way for Utah's tech companies to show they care about bettering our air.

A SIMPLE SOLUTION

Utah's desirability as a business destination is linked to our spectacular natural environment. As such, air quality creates a lasting impact on a company's ability to attract and retain new employees. We know this issue consistently ranks as one of the top concerns for employees throughout the state, and many indicate poor air would be a factor in leaving Utah.

While we can't do much about our geography, we can control the choices we make to decrease emissions that cause air pollution. The ability to work from most anywhere can be valuable to employees, employers and, in effect, all Utahns during periods of poor air quality by keeping regular commuters off the road and reducing vehicle emissions. Skipping a trip and teleworking--even just one day a week or on a red air day--can help make a difference.

Currently, about 48 percent of Utah's emissions come from vehicle tailpipes, and idling cars sitting in traffic up and down 1-15 only add to the problem. Teleworking offers an easy and effective way to address federal clean air requirements and reduce a company's overall carbon footprint. Global Workplace Analytics reports that if Americans with compatible jobs and a desire to work from home did so for half their work time, the greenhouse gas reduction would be equivalent to taking the entire workforce of New York state permanently off the road. This is a significant statistic that shows the collective impact teleworking can have on improving the environment.

Teleworking can also improve employee productivity and satisfaction while saving money. Teleworking is not a hard sell; in fact, it's cited as one of the top...