Facilitating Telework: A Review of Research Based Findings Milissa Gofourth, Oklahoma ABLE Tech Sara Sack, Assistive Technology for Kansans May 21, 2007

Definition of Telework Project STRIDE  Role: Employee or contractor  Location: Work at home or a remote location  Time: Normal hours or shift  Excludes: Occasional or after hours work, sales force, and mobile work

Definition of Telework RSA Technical Assistance Circular (04/02/07)  Role: Employee, Contractor, Self- Employment (Employer)  Location: Home, designated sites away from office (work on the road or at telework center)  Time: Full or part-time (adjustable)  Exclusions: None noted.

Definition of Telework Kansas adopted the European Telework Organization Definition  Telework occurs when information and communication technologies (ICTs) are applied to enable work to be done at a distance from the place where the work results are needed or where the work would conventionally have been done. (

Kansas’ Telework Features  Role: Employee, contractor, employer  Job: Must involve ICTs  Location: Home, designated sites away from office (work on the road or at telework center)  Time: Full or part-time (adjustable)  Classification: Is it Telework or employment? Do we use the AFP or Telework Program?

Impression of the Research Findings  Findings support our belief that employers are more inclined to offer Telework for: –Workers who have a history with the company –Circumstances that involve FMLA protections  Infrastructure for Telework needs development

Impression of the Research Findings  Findings support our belief that there are significant challenges in regard to identifying Telework jobs  Tax credits are under utilized  Additional challenges related to identifying workers and matching to Telework opportunities

Flexibility RSA Technical Assistance Circular Within definition of Telework & Equipment  Review and determine funding on a case-by-case basis –Individuals disability creates a barrier(s) to employment the telework outcome would overcome that barrier –Equipment is based on the relationship of the purchase to the proposed outcome

Services Individualized  ATF can provide funding quick and efficiently –“Prior to approval of a guaranty loan, that is using potential self-employment income…the applicant may be required to submit a business plan.”  Customize the type of loan product –Low-Interest –Revolving –Guaranty –Buy-Down –Combination  Credit Counseling

Looking Toward the Future  Milissa and Sara’s belief: We have the “cart before the horse”  Telework is important and we want to bring it to the attention of stakeholders  Increase research on implementing Telework – look at models, and levels of support  Maintain federal focus and financial support for Telework –Refine features of Telework and features of self-employment  Collect and disseminate compelling examples of Telework

Questions….other thoughts????