In September 2003, the AVV report `Telework, the state of the art, moving the work to the worker instead or moving the workers to work’, was published (AVV, September 2003). As a result of this report and the subsequent recommendations of the AVV to the Directorate-General for Passenger Transport (DGP) of the Ministry of Transport, the decisionmaking process regarding telework policy has started at DGP. The report and the recommendations gave rise to a number of questions that have to be answered in order to conclude the decision-making process: • What is the reason for the difference between the actual and potential number of teleworkers in the Netherlands? • Can the recommendations regarding the stimulation of telework be more specific? Is stimulation of telework necessary? • Are there any tasks left for the government regarding telework? Which ministries are involved and is there still a role for the Ministry of Transport (V&W)? The question lying behind this, is whether or not it is necessary for the Ministry of Transport to pursue an incentives policy. Will the numbers of teleworkers rise automatically, by itself, without any intervention? Or are there any specific obstacles to a successful introduction of telework, which V&W can remove? To answer these questions a consultation round of experts on telework was organised by the AVV. On the basis of what we call `expert judgement’ answers were given to eight questions set by the AVV. Fourteen experts who study telework from different angles were consulted. In the report an objective account of the results of the interviews is given, clustered around “question” (chapter 2) and “interview” (chapter 3). Independently of this the AVV is putting forward some recommendations based on the results of the interview round to those who had commissioned the research at DGP in support of decision-making on telework policy The interviews led to a deeper understanding of the issues. The experts have confirmed the results from the September report, concerning actual and potential numbers of teleworkers. Figures concerning the potential amount of teleworkers vary, with a maximum of 2 million teleworkers. The results have to be qualified, however. When asked, the impact of telework on travel behaviour is generally underlined (no impact on the total amount of travel, however, but on the spread in trips, particularly less travel in the morning rush hour). As regards autonomous increase (an increase in the number of teleworkers without any specific incentives government policy towards telework) the expectation is that this will happen. Telework is increasingly becoming ‘common practice’ among employees and employers, it is more and more ‘done’. Improved technical possibilities also play a role in this. However, it is noticeable that telework in the ‘work-at-home’ sense is limited to a natural maximum. Not everyone is able to telework and sometimes telework has no advantages. In a broader context, also referred to as ‘e-work’, working independently from time and place certainly has much potential, with the impacts on travel behaviour stated earlier. The autonomous increase will not go so far, in the opinions of the experts, that the potential number is reached in the near future. There are obstacles at the levels of employees, employers and government. The earlier report had already mentioned these obstacles, and in the interviews these were confirmed and elaborated on. In this report it is pointed out what these obstacles are, what actions can be taken to deal with them and who is most suited to take them according to the experts. In short, a clear picture has to be given to those who do not know of the advantages and opportunities of telework. In this, a new attitude in management at different work places is very important. An important observation that was made is that in most cases, the actions are first and foremost the responsibility of employers and employees (organisations). The interviews also mentioned possible actions for the government; these are enumerated below. Sometimes the experts referred to the role of the Ministry of Transport explicitly, if so this is specified in the text. Generally they spoke more of ‘the government in a broad sense’. Bring all relevant parties together: discuss the subject and point out the possibilities of telework, its advantages and disadvantages and specific implementation at organisation level (action for the government together with employers' associations and trade unions). Transfer of knowledge: communicate the tools that have already been developed (also by the government) and communicate the good practices that exist in the area of telework. Make a connection between different policy dossiers at the ministry of transport: examine the perspective of locational accessibility, time policy, mobility management (action specifically for V&W). Discuss the topic with other departments: a discussion of (tele-) work in broader perspective: new ways to look at ‘work’ in society, how do we organise our work in time and place (V&W in association with SZW, VROM and EZ); Keep an eye on the way things are going: now and then, monitor the development of the number of teleworkers, the impact (among other things on travel behaviour), the opportunities and the threats. Evaluate the state of the art. (Author/publisher)
Abstract