Only few domestic firms adopt telecommuting

Only 28 percent of Philippine-based companies are implementing telecommuting or work at home arrangement, although a large majority of 87 percent are open to the idea, a survey conducted by the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) showed.

ECOP, the country’s largest employers’ organization, conducted a survey to determine the prevalence of telecommuting practices following the enactment into law of Republic Act. No. 11165, otherwise known as “An Act Institutionalizing Telecommuting as an Alternative Work Arrangement for Employees in the Private Sector.”

Survey results showed that out of 98 company respondents, only 28 percent implement a telecommuting or telework arrangement. The top three industries represented in the survey came from the manufacturing industry (20%), IT/ BPM industry (11%), and services industry (10%). Majority of the respondents are large firms (56%), small (27%), and medium (17%).

ECOP Chairman Ed Lacson said that telecommuting is an option made available to employers/employees and best left to management discretion for implementation as they address situational needs of business.

“Interpersonal relationship in an office setting cannot be replaced by telecommuting arrangement. Thus, low rate of implementation is not worrisome,” said Lacson.

Lacson stressed that ECOP welcomes the telecommuting law, which recognizes the role of digital technology that allows humans and machines to work together seamlessly and productively.

But he also stressed that the law should not be used to address traffic problem but to provide an alternative work arrangement.

Despite the slow adoption to telecommuting, the survey showed that 87 percent responded said they are open to the idea given that the following are available: Appropriate equipment; better Internet connection; software for monitoring working hours and output; best practices/ benchmarking tools from their industry; restructured organization (e.g. definition of roles and responsibilities); and guidelines and policies.

ECOP Director-General Jose Roland A. Moya said that the law does not require companies to adopt telecommuting stresses saying it is voluntary. (BCM)