ECONOMIC REPORTS

Telecommuting Boosts Home Life And Productivity

TELECOMMUTERS say they are ''more productive'' than ever and even say their home lives have been improved since they began working part time from home, according to a workplace study.

The study by Georgetown University's School of Business for Bell Atlantic surveyed telecommuters at several companies - including American Express Company, Marriott International Inc., Fannie Mae, and Bellcore - over several months.

Three-quarters of workers surveyed said they were more productive when telecommuting and 83 percent said telecommuting changed their home life for the better.

The most common disadvantages telecommuters cited were: They were afraid they would be left out of communication; a manager was difficult to reach; and the available technologies were not compatible with their needs.

Companies should rethink how they invest in people

HIRING an $80,000-a-year employee can represent, over time, more than a $1 million investment for a company, according to a new study by Towers Perrin, a New York-based consulting firm.

''No company would pour millions of dollars into new equipment without first weighing ongoing costs against future economic benefits,'' states Jeffrey Schmidt, a managing principal with Towers Perrin. ''Yet, few corporations apply the same diligence to evaluating the costs and contributions of their people.''

For example, an environmental manager for a petroleum company with a starting salary of $89,100 represents a corporate investment of almost $621,000 over five years, and $1.2 million over 10 years, the study finds.

A telecommunications manager with a starting salary of $89,700 equals a $580,000 investment over five years and $1.1 million over a decade, the study says.

Employees' financial stress hurts performance

MANY American workers lack the know-how to conduct their money affairs. The resulting pressure can lead to lower productivity and other workplace problems, reports Cambridge Human Resource Group.

The Chicago-based employment consulting firm, in a survey of more than 300 human-resources executives, found 32 percent of the managers surveyed consider employee financial problems the most pressing overlooked workplace issue.

Some companies try to provide employees with educational programs and seminars on money management, budgeting, and saving for retirement, the study finds.

- Associated Press