Work Trends — Nothing But Net: American Workers and the Information Economy A joint project of the University of Connecticut’s Center for Survey Research and Analysis and the State University of New Jersey’s John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers. This (February 2000) study looks at what Americans think about the impact of the high-tech revolution on their lives, their jobs, their workplaces and more. Despite widespread use of computers during the workday (68%), the study reports American workers have a strong desire to use the computer for additional applications, with one of the most attractive being the option to telecommute. Among the findings:

Of workers who believe they could perform their job as a telecommuter:

• Only 16% of employers offer telecommuting
• 9% of all workers actually telecommute, up from 8% in the same study a year earlier
• 67% of telecommuters report being either more, or much more, productive when they telecommute
• 62% of employees who have the opportunity to telecommute do so at least one day a week. 18% telecommute one day a week, while a fifth (20%) telecommute two to four days a week
• 37% of employees who have the option choose not to telecommute
• 47% of working Americans support government tax breaks for employers who offer telecommuting opportunities
• Telecommuters are more satisfied with their jobs. 95% of telecommuters are satisfied with their jobs, compared to 83% for those who do not telecommute
• 47% agree that government should offer tax breaks to employers who offer telecommuting
• Workers most likely to telecommute include college graduates, those with post graduate degrees and those who use technology more frequently