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Category: Telework ConneXt, |
- CEO: Robert Dryden, President
- PM: Vanessa Hawes, Human Resources Manager
- ETC: Rita Sanchez, Human Resources Assistant
Premier
telework program earns ConneXt another Diamond Award
Some companies are still debating
telework, others allow it in special cases, a few others
have full-fledged programs. And then there is ConneXt.
Its investment in a 14,000 square foot state-of-the-art
telework center and other tools and support for telework
sets it apart from the crowd. So does the fact ConneXt
has reduced its urgent need for space by 20% with the aid
of telework. But then this high-tech company has a
history of linking alternative ways of commuting to its
bottom line.
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Representing ConneXt Inc., (From left to
right): Holly Hollis, Maxine Voetberg, Kea
Lundstrom, Rita Sanchez, Vanessa |
ConneXt is a leading developer of Customer Information System (CIS) software for utility companies. When the organization relocated to downtown Seattle in 1996, six months after start up, management made a strong commitment to commute trip reduction. Management wanted to encourage staff to make the move and thus avoid having to recruit and train new employees. The CTR program that was developed resulted in a 1997 Diamond Award for management support.
Within the past two years, ConneXt has experienced tremendous growth, quickly filling four floors of a downtown office building. Faced with the dilemma of finding more office space in a tight real estate market or relocating again, management chose to try a large-scale telework program. This decision, and the innovative and successful program that resulted, have earned ConneXt a 1999 Diamond Award for telework.
Telework center functional
and beautiful
More than 125 employees are assigned to the telework
center, an area that normally accommodates about 88
full-time employees in cubicles. At the same time, the
company equipped employees with laptop computers to
enable them to work from home, as well as from client's
offices or while traveling. On the other two floors,
employees and contractors who telework on opposite days
are able to share cubicles. Staff based in other parts of
the U.S. can use the center when in Seattle, and
employees transitioning to full-time telework find it a
useful first step.
Teleworkers describe the space as user-friendly, efficient, and beautiful with its floor to ceiling window view of Puget Sound and the Olympics. Each teleworker has a locker and a mobile personal file cabinet stored in the center. All of the furniture is adjustable and mobile so desks and chairs can be easily grouped together or spread around. When teleworkers are at the office they simply roll their file cabinet to one of the desks, plug in their laptop, dial their extension into the telephone and get to work.
“Telework is an innovative idea that meshes well with what we felt would make ConneXt successful – building a flexible, creative environment with a less rigid structure,” explains Maxine Voetberg, facilities director. The hard work and commitment have paid off. Employees are happier and less stressed. The company enjoys the increased productivity the teleworkers generate and substantial savings to the company's budget as a result of saved office space.
Commuting
program
Results Office space needs reduced by 20%, 63% of employees ride the bus, 6% telework regularly with up to 70% occasionally, 5% carpool, and 2% bicycle or walk. |
*Some definitions: An “ETC” is the staff-level employee transportation coordinator responsible for the daily administration of the transportation program; “PM” is the transportation program manager; and “CEO” refers to the top management-level person at the worksite. “SOV” stands for single-occupant vehicle, and “CTR” for commute trip reduction.