Setting a new work practice closer to home

Employees from the private sector are now allowed to work from the comfort of their homes as telecommuting has become under a recently signed law.

The Telecommuting Act or the Republic Act No. 11165 recognizes a work arrangement wherein an employee can work from "an alternative workplace" using telecommunication and other computer technologies. It was signed into law by President Duterte on December 20, 2018.

This working arrangement can be both beneficial to employers and their employees, said Labor Assistant Secretary Benjo Benavidez.

"Since this is an alternative work arrangement, economically makakabenefit ito sa worker as well as employer. Sa employer in the sense na — cost in the electricity and other operating expense. For the employee yung cost niya sa travel, cost sa uniform, ayun matitipid din" [Since this is an alternative work arrangement, economically both workers and employees can benefit from this. For the employers, this is beneficial in the sense that it can reduce costs in electricity and other operating expenses. For employees, it can reduce travel and uniform costs] Benavidez told the Manila Bulletin.

"But yung intangibles nito you will have increased time doon sa relationship with the family [and] friends..." he furthered.

Under the law, employers are not required to establish telecommuting arrangements but they can offer the said program on a "voluntary basis."

"We do not mandate the companies to adopt telecommuting/work from home. [If] it is not to their liking — benefit or advantage — then they will not implement it. It's an option," said Benavidez.

The law noted that the employers must ensure that the workers under the telecommuting arrangement "are given the same treatment as that of comparable employees working at the employer's premises."

Recently, the Employers’ Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) conducted a survey on the prevalence of the telecommuting among its member-companies. The survey was participated in by 98 respondents.

Based on the survey, 87 percent of the respondents expressed openness of implementing the telecommuting scheme as long as some conditions are met. These are: Appropriate equipment; better internet connection; software for monitoring working hours and output; best practices/bench-marking tools from their industry; restructured organization (e.g. definition of roles and responsibilities); and guidelines and policies.

More companies are expected to adopt this kind of working arrangement in the future because of the "benefit that it brings — cost-efficient [as well as] work/life balance," Benavidez said.