Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

131Awareness <strong>of</strong> Telework in HungaryAccording to a survey among mid and large size companies telework has been found unanimouslyadvantageous by most company managers. The macro-economic advantages <strong>of</strong> telework are mostlymanifested in decreasing the crowdedness <strong>of</strong> public roads due to drop <strong>of</strong> the number <strong>of</strong> travelingemployees, and through that improving the state <strong>of</strong> the environment. The managers questionedin general can also see more advantages from the employees’ point <strong>of</strong> view, true enough that notto that great extent. On micro-level, i.e. the level <strong>of</strong> the business <strong>of</strong> the companies, the utmostadvantage <strong>of</strong> telework is identified in savings achievable in cost management: through decreasing<strong>of</strong>fice, rental and various other costs.When given more specific questions whether the particular firms are planning to employ teleworkersin the near future, less advantageous data was collected. The companies contacted can be dividedinto three main categories in view <strong>of</strong> their attitude to telework, and when they can imagineemploying teleworkers. Slightly more than one third (37%) <strong>of</strong> the firms have appeared to bedefinitely against the idea: they can foresee no teleworkers employed or only in the distant future.Contrary to them, also a bit more than one third <strong>of</strong> the companies (39%) have been absolutely open:they would gladly employ teleworkers, and can imagine realizing that in a five years’ term. Theremaining one fourth <strong>of</strong> the companies (24%), have taken an intermediate position: they are neitherthat much open, nor that much against it; they can conceive that they employ teleworkers in 5-10years.In view <strong>of</strong> the fact that employing telework raises plenty <strong>of</strong> various technical, financial, legal andother issues, a significant number <strong>of</strong> companies have no intention to employ teleworkers at all.Above all, the main factor influencing companies against telework is data protection difficultiesrelated to the employment <strong>of</strong> telework.Also holding companies back is that managers are not entirely certain that telework is moreeffective or that it generates a higher level <strong>of</strong> performance than traditional in-house forms <strong>of</strong>work.The number <strong>of</strong> teleworkers in HungaryDue to the low uptake <strong>of</strong> telework in Hungary precise figures to the number <strong>of</strong> teleworkers are notavailable. However, even without precise data it can be stated that the employment <strong>of</strong> telework canbe observed solely within a fairly limited range in Hungary.According to ECOSTAT Research about 25,000 people in Hungary do some work on a homecomputer. This is out <strong>of</strong> a total labor force <strong>of</strong> 3,5 million. Most <strong>of</strong> this work is done in occupationssuch as accounting, translation, typing/editing, research, planning and design. Many <strong>of</strong> thesepeople would be classed as “voluntary “ teleworkers, but they have probably accepted this form <strong>of</strong>work because they prefer an alternative to rigid forms <strong>of</strong> work.The number <strong>of</strong> corporate (employed) teleworkers in Hungary does not reach 1% <strong>of</strong> all employees.There are only a few companies who employ teleworkers and among them the relative numbers aresmall. When comparing reality to plans, a much higher number <strong>of</strong> teleworkers can be identified.Those questioned in a survey by Psyma Hungary were asked to estimate the percentage <strong>of</strong> jobs they