Telework Toolkit
In May 2008, the Washington State Legislature provided $150,000 in
funding for the Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council to conduct a
Telework Pilot Project. The funding was administered through the
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) Commute Trip
Reduction (CTR) Program. The Telework Toolkit website is the core
deliverable of this project.
Telework Toolkit Site
Report to Legislature
Employers and employees from Kitsap County were actively recruited to
participate in the pilot project. Employers, IT executives, and HR executives
with prior teleworking knowledge and experience were invited to serve on
our Expert Panel. A total of 13 organizations participated in the Pilot
Project, inluding: Microsoft, Kitsap Transit, Kitsap Regional Library,
Kitsap Credit Union, Olympic College, City of Poulsbo, Central Kitsap
Fire and Rescue, Municipal Research and Services Center, Kitsap Peninsula
Visitor Convention Bureau, Kitsap Homebuilders Association, Wet Apple
Media, McClure Consulting, Olympic Printer Resources.
The Telework Pilot Project ran from May 2008 through June 2009. On
July 1, 2009, when the pilot project wrapped-up, the project team
presented to the State Legislature a progress report of what we learned,
as well as a Telework Toolkit that includes everything an employer needs to know to launch and operate
a successful telework program, and everything an employee needs to know
be a successful teleworker. In addition, the team will created a template
for others who want to promote telework in their region, jurisdiction or
agency.
History
The Kitsap Regional Coordinating Council began working on the telework
concept in 2006. An assembled team of agency IT and HR managers explored
teleworking and workplace technologies. The initial task was to study which
technologies worked best in which conditions, the components of a
telework policy, security, and other technology issues affecting public
agencies. The team shared its findings in a series of brown bag lunches. Handouts, and
other information from the June 14, 2007
brown bag lunch can be found on the
Telework Toolkit website.
The team's investigation into teleworking showed strong interest and
promise. HR Directors saw telework as a benefit that could help retain
high-knowledge employees in Kitsap County. The team also found that many
organizations adopt teleworking incrementally, learning through trial and
error what works and what doesn't, sometimes without clear policies in place.
The team concluded that telework would be more feasible for employers if
they were provided with some basic tools, such as facts to address their
questions and concerns, and a telework policy template, so they didn't
have to invent it from scratch. This was the genesis of the Telework
Toolkit and Pilot Project. |
