Your Commute is Killing You!

I was a commuter for many years. My commute to Tysons Corner (and points beyond) were usually a minimum of an hour each way and more if there was an accident, bad weather, or some random event. I was in three relatively serious accidents.

Simply put, commuting is a risk to your life and your health. Connie Moser, the President of the Northern Virginia Telework Council (I am the Chairman) sent me this article from Slate Magazine: Your Commute Is Killing You. It correctly points out that long commutes cause obesity, neck pain, loneliness, divorce, stress, and insomnia. I'll add to that list the fact that every mile on the road increases the probability that you will be in an accident, perhaps seriously hurt, or even killed just trying to get to work.

It's simple... every day you figure out how to get out of driving towards the beltway is a day you reduce the risk to your health, your marriage, your stress levels and... well... death and dismemberment. Questions?

The president signed telework into public law with approval of the Telework Enhancement Act of 2010. All government agencies should be rolling out their telework plan this month (June 2011). The State of Virginia offers tax incentives to private businesses to offer telework as an option to its employees.

So why would anyone who really understands there's an option not want to explore telework for at least a couple of days a week (or more)? Bad management, that's why. If a manager lacks the confidence to trust his or her employees to work out of sight or perhaps the skills to organize and measure results so that location doesn't matter, they are comforted by the fact that they may at least "watch you" eight hours a day. These managers are the "Luddites of the 21st Century." I suggest you fight back as your life and health depend on it (because they do). Let's face it, most of the folks who work near the beltway or downtown are pretty bright people. You know that (with a few exceptions) you can do your work anywhere. For those of you unfortunate enough to work for a "Luddite," you know who really doesn't care about your life, your health, or the fact that you haven't been to your kids soccer game in years. Go around him or her! Go talk to your Telework Coordinator (every agency has one) and develop a plan to get off the road once in a while (or permanently).

It's simple... a good manager cares what you produce, not where you are when you produce it. As long as you continue to demonstrate productivity you will win in the long run. With Skype, email, social networking, video teleconferencing tools, and the phone (as a last resort), you may easily remain "visible."

You're bright people... do the math... get off the road... go talk to your Telework coordinator... and enjoy your kid's soccer game.

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