EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - Telework experiment at Amsterdam Regional Assessment Body

Telework experiment at Amsterdam Regional Assessment Body

Introduction

In collaboration with the telework forum, the Regional Assessment Body (RIO) has introduced telework to reduce the bottlenecks between work and care.

Problem

RIO wanted to use this experiment to gain insight into the effects of teleworking.

Description

Through this project RIO wanted to gain insight into the effects of telework on:

Reducing work pressure among people who combine tasks, i.e. people who combine work and care.
Increasing of job satisfaction, or the contentment of employees.
Increasing customer satisfaction by visiting outside regular office hours as well as during them.
In addition RIO and the Telework Forum hoped the experiment would produce valid, reliable and socially relevant information, applicable to similar organisations.

The experiment took place at RIO in Amsterdam, where between 25 and 30 assessment advisors teleworked for one year. They were all given a PC to use at home.

Approach

In connection with the reliability of the research synchronised comparison was made with a control group. This control group consisted of colleagues carrying out the same tasks as the study group, only in the original type of work.

The testing was carried out using standardised questionnaires. A zero measurement was taken prior to the commencement of the experiment, making comparison possible.

Results

An extensive report on the results of the research.
The results provide valuable social information for people who combine tasks, employers and the Telework Forum with respect to the question whether telework is a practicable instrument for reducing work pressure of work among people who combine tasks.
The number of home to work kilometres travelled was drastically reduced among the study group.
The results can be applied to other RIOs and similar organisations.
The results are published on the Telework Forum's website.

Contact info

Tot & Met foundation, Amsterdam RIO
Mr P. de Jong, tel. +31 20 527415

Project start date

01/10/2003

Links

Homepage of the Telework Forum

Project plan of Teleworking in Amsterdam (PDF, Dut, 32 KB)

Document type

case

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Working patterns

Keywords

Remote working