Innovative Work Options

Where and when they work can make a big difference too. In today’s wired world, telework, or telecommuting, is gaining momentum every day. Teleworking allows employees to work at a location other than their main office. The employee's home is the best alternative because it eliminates vehicle travel, allows the worker to be more productive with fewer distractions, and allows greater concentration with longer periods of uninterrupted work time. A compressed work week is the option to work more hours per day but fewer days within a one or two week period. The compressed work schedule offers many benefits to employers and employees and eliminates commute trips.

For questions regarding telecommuting and compressed work weeks,
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Telework

Telework, or telecommuting, is a flexible work option utilizing today's technology to eliminate the twice daily commute. It allows employees to work at a location other than their main office. At Valley Metro, we strive to assist employers with choosing the most effective trip reduction alternatives for their employees. Telework is one option that has proven to be successful at companies of all sizes and industries in Maricopa County.

Employer Benefits with Telework

• Help to achieve trip reduction goals
• Increase worker productivity
• Decrease absenteeism
• Improve employee morale
• Decrease overhead
• Provides great retention and recruitment tool

Employee Benefits with Telework

• Decreased stress
• Eliminates commute time and expenses
• Increases job satisfaction
• Decrease work related expenses

Compressed Work Weeks

Employees on compressed work weeks finish their usual number of working hours in fewer days, by simply working longer hours. By doing so, the employees have more days out of the year available for leisure or personal business. For coverage, the CWW days off should vary among employees. The three most common schedules are:

• 9/80 Schedule: Employees work the required number of hours for a two week period in nine days. The tenth day is considered an earned day off (EDO). This is a common option among professional services companies.
• 4/40 Schedule: Under this option, employees work their typical number of weekly hours in four days and take one day off. This schedule is commonly used in large factories, where large electricity savings are realized by having the plant powered down once a week.
• 3/36 Schedule: This schedule requires employees work three 12-hour shifts each week, leaving two EDOs each week. This option is common in hospital staff.

Employer Benefits with Compressed Work Weeks

• Help to achieve trip reduction goals
• Gains hours of coverage without paying overtime wages
• Decrease absenteeism
• Improve employee morale
• Provides great retention and recruitment tool

Employee Benefits with Compressed Work Weeks

• Provides three or four day weekends
• Eliminates commute time and expenses
• Provides better work/life balance
• Reduces vacation time used for local errands