1. WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today Virginia Commonwealth University Richmond, Virginia USA Telework/Telecommuting Pilot Research Project (title master A)

2. What are characteristics that are conducive to home-based telework as an accommodation? What policies, procedures, or strategies have been instituted by those organizations or which they are willing to institute? What barriers are inherent in using home- based telework as an accommodation? WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today Purpose (slide master A)

3. Definition Telework: Homebased work for some or all of employee’s work week WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)

4. U.S. Business Leadership Network; a national organization of 6,700 public & private employers Engaged in training, advocacy, & research efforts to promote employment of individuals with disabilities Used email, personal communications, and advertisement Non members minority of sample WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today Sample (slide master B)

5. Questionnaire:1) Demographics, 2)History of: a) telework, b) hiring employees w/ disabilities, & c) using telework w/employees w/disabilities; 3) in depth section 453 respondents WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today Data Collection Instrument (slide master B)

6. Current Experience with Telework & Employees with Disabilities 72% employees with disabilities 29% employees who telework 13% employees with disabilities who telework WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master B)

7. Disabilities Among Current Employees Sensory Disabilities 48.6% Physical Disabilities 47.1% Medical or Health Impairments 35.7% Mental Illnesses 35.7% Cognitive Disabilities 12.9% WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)

8. Accommodations for Employees Sidewalk Ramps 91.4% Elevators 88.6% Restroom Accommodations 91.4% Appropriate Furniture 64.3% Widened Hallways 64.3% WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)

9. Home 35.7 Satelite Location 8.3 Either 15.5 Neither 34.5 Other 6.0 WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today Telework Locations (slide master A)

10. Home Modifications Willing to Make Internet Connection 34.5% Supplementary Phone Line 20.2% Teleconference Equipment 17.9% Videoconferencing Equipment 6% Computer Equipment 2.4% WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)

11. Organizational Requirements Prior Probationary Period 63% In office work requirement 32.4% Core Work Schedule 75.7% WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)

12. Findings Amenable to accommodating Minority had dedicated telework positions Did on as needed basis More willing with employee with work history WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)

13. Barriers to Expanding Telework Financially prohibitive 2.4% No need for telework positions 27.4% Does not fit structure 26.2% WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)

14. Not encouraging to currently unemployed seeking home based work with a new employer. Three fourths require core work schedule…(flex schedule may be needed due to episodic conditions, fatigue, appts, other reasons). WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)

15. Encouraging Few indicated costs, monitoring, management, or demand issues were barriers Lack of need & not fitting into organizational structure reported by about a fourth WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)

16. WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP WORKERS WITH DISABILITIES: Ready for Tomorrow’s Jobs Today (slide master A)