Obviously telecommuting is not for everyone: doctors, polices, nurses, firefighters, and airline pilots can’t work on their laptops. But for other professions – customer service agents, airline reservation agents, sales and marketing, data-centre operators, advertising agencies; media buyers, indeed all kinds of ‘knowledge workers’ from junior to C-Suite - flex work offers clear cost reductions and a measurable impact on the environment.

When employees don’t spend two hours in the car getting to and from work, they save on fuel and parking costs, and gain time to live life. Along with the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions to the environment, here are some other factors that I think employers and employees should consider, competitive advantages are among them:

• reduction in traffic accidents
  
  
• reduction in highway maintenance
  
  
• reduction in parking structures. Paved lots spell the end of green spaces and trees
  
  
• reduced electricity consumption at the office. Employers pay far less annually
  
  
• reduction in office supplies and waste product
  
  
• telecommuting reduces the amount of real estate required i.e. office space, saving the company a lot of money annually
  
  
• reduction in repairs and maintenance to office buildings
  
  
• telecommuting reduces the pressure on employees to find affordable housing near the office. Ditto the search for suitable schools and/or daycare
  
  
• employee talent. Some employees start to look for new jobs because of the cost of commuting. Virtual work can build loyalty
  
  

Drawbacks

Employees need to consider the costs they’re going to absorb, namely: utility bills will go up; wear and tear on the house; office supplies e.g. paying for office equipment in the remote office.

Big picture?

Telecommuting reduces stress on the planet in more ways than one. When the green slogan “reuse, reduce, and recycle” is expanded to include resources like real estate, equipment, and people, it can reduce stress on employees and employers. It can save employers a lot of money. Ultimately telecommuting is the single best environmental initiative a company can make.

Employers, share your telecommuting stories. What percentage of the workforce is virtual? Are you measuring the returns in real estate and energy consumption and if so, what tools are you using?

Amber Nasrulla is an ex-pat Canadian writer based in L.A. who specializes in profiles from business leaders and scientists, to Hollywood celebrities. Her work has appeared in North American and British publications including L.A. Times, The Globe and Mail, Los Angeles Magazine, ELLE Canada, Chatelaine and London Weekly Times.

Flex work is the new black. Gone are the days when the entire staff had permanent seating in a permanent office and worked nine-to-five. Here are the days when the company's most important resources can be there for the company before, during and after traditional work hours. The kicker is this: where they're working from is beside the point.

This summer we've blogged from across Canada, from an airport and a campground in Alberta to Toronto’s Centre Island and High Park to coffee shops and Grouse Mountain in Vancouver. Can you work anywhere? Yes. We mean really work, right? Absolutely.

Thank you to the thousands who’ve read and the guest bloggers who participated. The top seven tips on how to do it right, courtesy of the 2010 Work Anywhere series are as follows:

1. Plan getting there: You can’t get busy if you can’t get started.

Arriving late, confused and frustrated isn’t the best start to a productive day. Plot a route, look into transit times, parking availability. It sounds basic but it makes all the difference.

“You should try to have a plan in mind before heading out to work. Check out a map to see the main points of attraction if you’re visiting a park or Centre Island.”

– Erin Bury, Centre Island in Toronto

2 . Come prepared: You're not a camel, or on a hunger strike. Either bring it, or know where it is.

Have an idea where restrooms, seating and refreshments are located if you’re going to be working remote for a long period of time. If you’re dehydrated, starving or…how shall we say…wanting… you’re not doing your best work. Easy fixes, with a little planning.

“Do your research on the location before coming – I didn’t look up the location of any of the washrooms, something I’d need to know if I worked for an extended period of time.”

                        – Erin Bury, High Park in Toronto

3. Do the basics: The Weather Network has a place in your plan.

There’s nothing worse than a whole day of productivity scrapped because the (ideally) predictable big rain starts ten minutes after you log on. Set up a comfortable workspace in a quiet spot, and if it’s outdoors, make sure to check the weather before venturing out.

“Make sure you check the forecast if you’re working from any outdoor locations – your laptop will thank you.”

– Erin Bury, High Park in Toronto

4. Bring the right tools: Use technology to be sure you’re not leaving your connectivity to chance.

Do what you can – research, calling ahead etc. – to determine what connectivity your location affords. Pack a mobile internet key in case there’s a lack of WiFi access and poor connectivity issues. A good mobile phone with a flexible plan will increase efficiency.

“Last but definitely not least is having the right mobile Internet solution for our business needs. Hotels, airports and coffee shops offer Wi-Fi however for me, I need something fast and reliable. I often turn to my Mobile Internet device. Having mobile Internet provides the reliability that this road warrior requires every single time. I may forget my phone or my server maybe down, but without my mobile Internet, I would be disabled.”

– Stuart Crawford, Telecommuting from Alberta National Park

5. Power up.

Make sure your laptop, phone and devices are fully charged in case there aren’t any electrical outlets available, or bring an external battery pack.

“Make sure your phone, laptop and any other devices are fully charged before heading out – and if you’re there for a full day consider a battery pack or taking a lunch break at a nearby restaurant or coffee shop to recharge.”

                                                          – Erin Bury, High Park in Toronto

6. Deal with distractions.

Family. Bugs. The cacophony of the Air Show. Bring earplugs or headphones if you’re working in a loud outdoor space; wear insect repellent during the summer. If you’re working on vacation with your family, establish some “work time” guidelines that are acceptable to everybody. Your ability to get things done is contingent on your ability to focus.

“Mosquitoes can be a big problem in some areas of Canada. While mosquito repellents can be effective, the constant buzzing can make working unbearable.”

         – Peter Hartl, 5 tips for working from a campground

7. Enjoy your surroundings: You never know what will inspire your next great idea.

Be sure to take breaks to stretch, get the creative juices flowing, and enjoy working remotely.

“Getting away from the rat race provides the perfect opportunity for you to escape the distractions of office life. Leaving you completely free to focus on whatever you need to work on. Need to tighten up your business plan, review last quarter's sales figures or complete a project...getting away from the office facilitates the flow of great ideas and provides clarity.

– Stuart Crawford, Telecommuting from Alberta National Park

If you can’t do this last bit, no worries. There’s still time. Autumn is the perfect opportunity to hone your own personal Work Anywhere technique. Wool socks and an extra sweater might add to the bulk of your laptop bag, but look at it this way: no mosquitoes.

Did your company give their teams a flex work option this summer? Did they use it? Join the conversation, tell what worked or what didn’t.