Let's Keep Those Telework Dollars in Prince William County

Wednesday's Washington Post (June 8, 2011) reminded us that its been six months since President Obama signed the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010. The article states that federal employees started receiving notification Tuesday regarding whether or not they may work from home. The article states,

"Legislation Obama signed last year requires federal agencies to develop policies that allow eligible employees to work remotely and to include telecommuting options in emergency contingency plans. Several government positions — including law enforcement officers, park rangers, lab technicians, and medical doctors and nurses — are exempt because of the nature of the jobs."

It appears that wederal workers have figured out the math...  working at home is better than commuting. According to the article, 32 percent of federal workers telework. That's a pretty high percentage.

Telework is both a quality of life issue and a business issue. I have explored the pragmatic reasons a person might want to telework extensively on my blog. Now it's time for the county to think about bringing those telework dollars, dollars otherwise spent in Fairfax County or Washington, D.C. home.  

Small business is the biggest beneficiary of telework dollars. The question from a local perspective is, "How many Prince William County residents telework?"  Put another way, how many of our folks are eating lunch here instead of Tysons Corner, Reston Town Center or downtown D.C. one or two days a week? Dry cleaning? Oil changes? Car purchases?

I propose that perhaps the Prince William County Government's emphasis should be on programs and policies that encourage its residents to telework, stay off the highways, and spend their money locally instead of emphasizing how to ship our residents and their pocketbooks to Fairfax County and downtown D.C.

Where do we start? It's simple. I'm sure you have seen those green signs promoting ride sharing all over the county. I suggest we add another green sign right over the ride share sign to promote telework (at the top of this post, yes... I know... telework is "misspelled." That makes it work as a phone number). 

It's a math problem. Perhaps its time for Prince William County Government to "do the math" to see what the ROI would be on an investment in telework signs, an 800 number to provide information, perhaps local discounts or tax breaks for home offices relative to the increase in small business revenue that would result from keeping those telework dollars home.

When those teleworkers are sitting on their back deck enjoying the sunset and a beer, at a kids soccer game, or taking the wife out to dinner instead if being stuck on the highway, they'll thank you... and Prince William County small business will love you. I think that's called a "win/win."

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