In yesterday’s Advisor, we featured survey results (from 2032 participants) on standard and nonstandard perks. Today, data on telecommuting and dress codes, plus demographic data concerning survey participants.
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[For the beginning of the survey report, go here.]
Telecommuting
Formal telecommuting guidelines are in place and employees are required to sign a formal agreement for 23.8%. An allowance to cover employee expenses for setting up telecommuting at their home is provided by 33.1%, 40.3% reimburse telecommuting employees for monthly Internet connections, and 54.2% reimburse for telephone expenses.
Offering telecommuting to employees brings:
|
Result |
Percent of employers that offer telecommuting |
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Improved employee morale |
42.1% |
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Improved recruiting and retention |
43.9% |
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Reduced absenteeism |
18.6% |
|
Savings on office space and other resources |
22.2% |
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Higher employee productivity |
43.9% |
When asked how satisfied with their telecommuting arrangements they are, 27.5% indicated they are very satisfied, 31% are somewhat satisfied, 32.3% are neutral, 7.4% are somewhat dissatisfied, and 1.9% are very dissatisfied.
Dress Codes
|
Code |
Percent of respondents indicating |
|
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Relaxed and casual |
53.8% |
|
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Very relaxed |
10% |
|
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Traditional business attire is required |
36% |
|
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Strictly suits |
Less than 1% |
|
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Dress code is relaxed during the summer months for all |
30.4% |
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Dress code is relaxed during the summer months only for employees with no customer contact |
13.6% |
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Dress-down days are offered by 72.7%, but only for employees with no customer contact for 15.6%. Friday casual is the norm for 74.8% but only on or near holidays for 14.8%. Dress-down attire is a reward for performance or fundraising for 10.5%.
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Survey Participants
Organizations with up to 250 employees account for 61.6% of our survey participants, and 22.6% have 251 to 1,000 employees. Another 15.7% work in organizations with more than 1,000 employees.
Of the participants responding to our survey, 45.9% have a workforce with 25% or fewer exempt employees. Another 22.6% have a workforce that is 26% to 50% exempt and 23.2% have a workforce with more than 50% exempt employees. Unions represent nonexempt employees at 21% of our survey participant employers and exempt employees at 12.6%.
Privately held for-profit organizations are represented by 59.6% of survey participants, and privately held nonprofits account for 22.1%. The public sector makes up 18.2%. Industries include manufacturing (17.7%); health care and social assistance (14.3%); finance and insurance (10%); and professional, technical, and scientific services (9.6%). Educational services represent 6% of our survey participants, and retail trade accounts for 3.3%.
Our 2,032 survey participants include those in staff positions (15.5%), supervisors (5.2%), manager level (57%), and VP or above (22.3%).
Thanks to all who participated!
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- Privacy. The director of information services can override any individual password and thus has access to all e-mail messages in order to ensure compliance with company policy. This means that employees do not have an expectation of privacy in their company e-mail or any other information stored or accessed on company computers.
- E-mail review. All e-mail is subject to review by management. Your use of the e-mail system grants consent to the review of any of the messages to or from you in the system in printed form or in any other medium.
- Solicitation. In line with our general policy, e-mail must not be used to solicit for outside business ventures, personal parties, social meetings, charities, membership in any organization, political causes, religious causes, or other matters not connected to the company’s business.
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