The "Human" in "Human Resource"
by Rick Johnson, Burns, OR
 
 
Today's employee wants good pay, for sure. And lots of vacation and sick leave. She or he also wants a strong retirement plan, generous health and dental insurance, and a bunch of other benefits.
 
But employees are beginning to realize there's something missing in what most employers are offering. Good employees everywhere now expect a whole lot more out of their jobs. They want more than money. And they want more than just blue-ribbon benefits. They want respect as human beings.
 
And you know what? Some human resource departments are responding. Can you believe it? Some employers now offer telecommuting as a work option precisely because they know about this growing workplace phenomenon: employee need for respect. Truly savvy employers are learning that money and other monetary benefits just aren't enough these days to attract and retain good, productive, and loyal employees.
 
Take Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) for example. Jon Bendingfield, SNL Manager for Staffing, was quoted in the January 29 issue of Sandia Lab News as saying that telecommuting "was adopted as one more way of ensuring Sandia is an 'Employer of Choice.' " SNL, with large national research facilities in Albuquerque, NM and Livermore, CA, knows they need to provide telecommuting work options in today's job market. They need to do so to remain competitive with other companies that are starting to do exactly the same thing. And by offering a telecommute option they're advertising to the entire world of scientific and engineering talent that they recognize and respect the needs of their workforce. They recognize that all workers are human, and they respect the human needs that telecommuting can fulfill. (Just take a look at http://www.sandia.gov/ on the web, and see for yourself the prestigious level of employer that's now showing such great respect for its workforce.)
 
In addition to recognizing and respecting the human needs of their employees, SNL is protecting its workers and members of the general public. How? By decreasing the number of unnecessary commutes thereby reducing traffic congestion. Fewer commutes means fewer deaths and injuries on the roads. That's pretty obvious. And these are the deaths and injuries prevented not only for the telecommuters who no longer commute, but also those commuters trying to share crowded roadways with all those "wannabe" telecommuters.
 
And don't forget about deaths and injuries of pedestrians that could be prevented - kids and grown-ups alike - trying to navigate along crowded streets and across hectic intersections. And there's yet another angle to this: fewer commutes also means less stress-induced illnesses and violence. Fewer unnecessary commutes means happier and healthier employees (both telecommuters and commuters alike). And happy healthy employees translates to folks who'll be more productive and more loyal workers. Telecommuting is definitely a plus for employees and employers alike.
 
Let's never lose sight of the "human" in "human resource." Sure, most people will work pretty hard for a bit of money. But over the long haul they'll always work harder for an employer who not only pays well, but shows they care about people. When an employer makes that type of human connection with its workers, money doesn't have to be the bottom line - the workers are already truly motivated and will make sure their boss and the company enterprise succeeds.
 
To those who employ telecommuters - my hat goes off to you. You're sure to be recognized in the future as pioneers for a new way to work. A new way to work that gets your employees to work faster, safer, and a whole lot healthier. Oh yeah... one more thing: I hope you employers are telecommuting, too! After all, what works for your workers, works for you.
 
Rick Johnson is the founder of Telecommuting Safety & Health Benefits Institute
 
Version 1.0 - February 22, 1999
 
 
Last revised: February 27, 2000
 
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