Published: September 12, 2006 04:15 pm      

Telework: Virginia office an innovative approach

More family time. Environmental friendliness. Business efficiency. The Commonwealth is hoping to score a home run on all three issues with the creation of the Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance.

Gov. Timothy M. Kaine signed the order to create the agency within the Office of the Secretary of Technology Tuesday.

The new agency will work to promote telework activities for public and private employees, as well as facilitate the deployment of “last-mile” broadband technologies throughout the state.

The General Assembly has set a goal of shifting a “significant number” of jobs into alternate work schedules within the next four years.

The reason is simple.

“Telework is a family-friendly, business-friendly public policy that helps us recruit and retain a high-quality workforce in a competitive job market,” Kaine said. “It also protects environmental quality and promotes energy conservation by reducing traffic congestion and vehicle emissions. Telework also allows a better balance between work and family. For all of these reasons, it is important for state government to support public and private sector efforts to promote widespread adoption of telework.”

Citing the ability of telework to reduce air pollution, lower mileage on vehicles and make employees happy, Fairfax County Delegate James M. Scott said, “State government should lead the way” on this issue.

The Commonwealth is certainly doing that — and more — by creating the new office.

In addition to promotion of telework, rural communities may also benefit from the new agency’s work to provide equal and affordable access to broadband communications, a vital tool in economic development in the 21st Century.

In recent weeks, Virginia was named America’s Best State for Business by Forbes.com, pulling in high marks in six categories used for judging: business costs, economic climate, growth prospects, workforce quality, quality of life and regulatory environment.

The Office of Telework Promotion and Broadband Assistance is another step in securing the Commonwealth’s reputation as a state that looks out for its people and businesses.

Virginia’s leaders deserve a pat on the back for their work in creating the new office, and demonstrating, once again, their innovation and forward-thinking.