An initial evaluation of teleworking
The government has published an Evaluation of the Impacts of Remote Working on the economy and society, part of which is devoted to employment. For employees, the resulting increases in heating and electricity costs for households, estimated at 79 euros and 30 euros per year respectively, would appear to be offset by the savings from reduced commuting, which are estimated at 413 euros per remote worker.
Remote workers can also save an average of 93 hours per year through reduced commuting which, according to the report, represents an equivalent monetary benefit of 1103 euros. The reduction in travel has the potential to “save 164,407 tonnes of CO2 a year, with an equivalent monetary saving of €7.6m” (provided that remote workers do not take more frequent, shorter trips from home during the day).
The report, which emphasises that teleworking facilitates participation in the labour market for persons with disabilities or family responsibilities, suggests introducing targeted support with ‘start-up’ costs for people with disabilities or low incomes, including helping them with equipment purchases, and emphasises that promoting teleworking does not exempt companies from the requirement to continue adapting the workstations on their premises.
Also worthy of note is a growth in demand for housing in rural areas in 2021, which should also prompt the government to boost access to high-speed broadband nationwide.
(Article published in IR Notes 187 – 1st June 2022)
