One in three workers could telecommute but aren’t allowed

According to a survey carried out by the federal mobility department, one in three workers who could work at home at least one day a week are not allowed to. The survey was carried out among 2,000 commuters across Belgium.

One-third of respondents who work five days a week at the office said that it would be perfectly possible to do their jobs from home one day a week, but that their management would not allow it. A large number of people could then “easily telecommute with a bit of adjustment and a different management mentality,” according to SPF Mobilité.

That would, according to the agency, increase the numbers teleworking at least one day a week from 17% of the workforce to 42%. And that would have a huge impact on traffic.

Discounting those who use public transport, telecommuting currently saves nine million kilometres travelled by car a week, or 7% of all rush hour traffic, SPF said. If those one in three could telecommute, the figure would jump to 23 million kilometres a week, or 16.5% of rush hour traffic.

Photo: Ingimage