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No Office for Young Workers
March 12, 2008
Edited by Jeremy Cohen
Working remotely holds the greatest attraction to employees of Generations X and Y…and if new research is to be believed, it's one seriously strong attraction. According to a new study commissioned by Citrix Online, U.S. workers aged 18-34 prefer flexible working conditions two-to-one over other age groups.
In fact, 70% of survey respondents agreed that working remotely would be a welcome opportunity. In an era where acquiring and retaining good employees is a challenge, and the workforce is becoming increasingly young and mobile, offering the ability to Web commute can serve as a competitive edge for recruiters.
"Web commuter" is a new term—coined by Citrix Online, a provider of Web-based services for remote computer access and online collaboration—applied to the growing number of people performing at least part of their jobs from virtually anywhere, at any hour of the day, thanks to technology that allows them to "take their office with them" wherever they go. The national Web commuter survey, conducted by the polling company, inc. shows that:
• Although 23% of American workers regularly work from an offsite location, using Web technology to do their jobs, 62% of those who don't currently Web commute agreed they would like to do so.
• Respondents aged 18-34 were more apt than most to look forward to controlling their own schedules, while 35-44 year olds said they would prize more time with family.
• Overall, the younger the respondent, the more apt he or she was to perceive value in online tools and services that enable them to work remotely.
The difference between the values expressed by younger workers versus others makes sense, given the proportionally higher familiarity with the Internet among Generations X and Y than among older workers. "As Baby Boomers retire, employers will be forced to compete for younger workers, for whom technology is a native tongue," says Kellyanne Conway, CEO and president of the polling company, inc. "Offering the ability to Web commute is an easy way to provide a valued benefit to this age group."
"Anyone of any age can benefit from new, low-cost technologies that are as easy to use and as indispensable as e-mail and cell phones," says Bernardo de Albergaria, vice president and general manager of global marketing and eCommerce for Citrix Online. "Younger workers expect freedom and flexibility, and online remote access and collaboration services enable people to work on their own terms."
"When employers provide these tools for connecting employees with their PCs, customers, prospects and co-workers across town or halfway around the world, everyone benefits."
For more information about Citrix Online's suite of Web-based services, visit www.citrixonline.com.
Sales & Marketing Management Magazine
This article is brought to you by Sales & Marketing Management, the leading authority for executives in the sales and marketing field.
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