Deployment of Telework in European Public Administrations

Deployment of Telework in European Public Administrations: An Overview
30
i.e. Korte, Werner B. (1996), Blanpain, Roger (1997), Pennings, Frans (1997).
31
‘Living and working in the Information Society: People first’, COM (96) 389, 30 September 1996; „Partnership
for a new organisation of work’, COM (97) 128, 16 April 1997.
32
European Commission: The Social and Labour Market Dimension of the Information Society. People First - The
Next Steps, COM (97) 390.

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Case No. 1: Institutions on European Level - The Translation Service
for the European Parliament (DG7)
Background and motivation
The Directorate General for Translation and General Services (DG7) at the European Parliament
already provides an example of a carefully outlined and introduced telework scheme which is well
established and can serve as a European-wide example how ‘to take their own medicine’. A
decision to introduce a pilot was made in autumn 1995 and started with high appreciation among
individual staff members in 1996. Of the 3,500 people working in DG7, at present 22 translators
conduct their work for the European Parliament via homebased telework. Employees were mainly
motivated by the prospect of increased autonomy in the management of time and work, flexibility
to deal with personal and family matters, and avoidance of mental distress they felt in the main
office. Additionally the management anticipated improvements in retaining experienced staff
members, savings of travel and office costs, and increased efficiency due to fewer interruptions
and redistribution of work.
Implementation
The pilot phase lasted for one year and was monitored by a Joint Committee comprising staff
members and representatives of the administration. Teleworkers had quarterly meetings with their
Director and the Director General and were assessed individually after a trial period of six months.
The initial evaluation after six months and repeated after two years serves the institution as a
permanent tool to enable it to decide about each individual continuing to telework. At present,
telework is practised throughout nine language divisions and the Informatics, Language and
Documentation Support Division (SILD). One staff member of the latter carries out
terminological research and maintenance of data-bases from home, the majority of the teleworkers
translate documents. Although most of the translators come to the Parliament less often than once
per week, they have not mentioned feeling any unusual degree of social isolation. The teleworkers
expressed satisfaction with enhanced life quality, the organisation recognised increased
productivity - which in the case of teleworkers is measured in output of translated pages rather
than hours present at the work place. There is a further difference between them and the
colleagues working at the employer's premises. Teleworkers can rely less on assistance from
typists and are expected to deliver finished work.
Regulations
DG7 uses a standardised contract for specific telework regulations. It regulates the beginning and
end of telework depending on employees' willingness and the employer's allowance to start with
teleworking. Further items are the modes of transmission of documents, copyright and
confidentiality, the availability of the teleworker, maximum distance to central workplace,
purchase of equipment and reimbursement of telecom costs by the organisation, technical support,
and the teleworker's responsibility for equipment. In the case of injuries in the home office it is
the responsibility of the teleworker to prove that it related to the professional activity. Further, the
duty to inform about damage or theft of equipment is part of the agreement.