Proceedings of 8th European Assembly on telework (Telework2001)

180Short summaries <strong>of</strong> the other presentations in the sessionNew structure – better work?Harri Melin, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor, University <strong>of</strong> Tampere, FinlandJacques Babot and John Sherwin (EU DG Information Society and DG Employment and SocialAffairs) presented the results <strong>of</strong> the pilot project “From Pilot Project to Standard Practice – ThePlanned Introduction <strong>of</strong> e-Work to the <strong>European</strong> Commission” dealing with telework within theEU Commission. The Commission started their pilot project in January 1999 and it lasted for a yearand a half. The total number <strong>of</strong> teleworkers was about 120. The telework was part-time, and bothhome-based and mobile by nature.Internal and external experts later evaluated the project. According to the internal report, teleworkcould make a valuable contribution by improving the efficiency <strong>of</strong> the Commission and thequality <strong>of</strong> the working life <strong>of</strong> its staff. Attention should be given to a strategy for a more generalintroduction <strong>of</strong> teleworking options for the majority <strong>of</strong> the Commission’s staff. The external reportconcluded that the pilot project had been undertaken pr<strong>of</strong>essionally and effectively, and it producedvery clear and unambiguous results. Immediate action should be taken to extend teleworkingoptions throughout the Commission as widely and rapidly as possible.The staff that participated in the pilot project has been continuing teleworking since the end <strong>of</strong>the project. Experiments with more sophisticated technological support are also being conducted.Evaluation reports have been circulated widely, the findings have been presented, and the role <strong>of</strong>telework has been confirmed in the ongoing reform programme. Telework will be an element in thefuture development <strong>of</strong> the e-Commission.Birgitte Yttri and John W. Bakke (Telenor Research and Development) talked about “Working inPrivate and Public Spaces”. Their starting point was that telework and other forms <strong>of</strong> flexible workchallenge the traditional distinctions between work and non-work activities, as well as the receivedunderstanding <strong>of</strong> where work is to take place. In their presentation, they discussed boundary workin telework, delineating work and leisure, and relationship management in private, public andsemi-public places. The presentation was based on the results <strong>of</strong> three Norwegian and <strong>European</strong>projects.In “traditional work spaces” it is assumed that work tasks, and work tasks only, will be performedin their designated spaces. The daily schedule <strong>of</strong> a “traditional worker” is clearly divided intodifferent locations and activities. The daily schedule <strong>of</strong> a teleworker is mixed or blurred in terms <strong>of</strong>location and activity. You work at home and you also have your leisure at home.Telework challenges the traditional distinctions. Telework and other forms <strong>of</strong> flexible workingdecouple the close links between time, schedule, location and activity. Telework also necessitatesnew forms <strong>of</strong> time, location and activity management. According to the surveys, there are twomain strategies: 1) Segmentators distinguish sharply between work and non-work. 2) Integrators