People working at home mean more eyes for 'Neighborhood Watch' programs. Nortel telecommuters have also brought significant benefits for the environment, reducing travel by 50 million miles per year and eliminating 30 million pounds of pollution per year. Surveys have consistently indicated that telecommuters are happier, healthier and less stressed. They are able to be more flexible with family time too. For example, parents working from home are able to see their children off to school in the morning and be there after school to greet them.
Nortel employees are more likely to stay with the company longer if they telecommute.
Telecommuting has allowed Nortel to dramatically reduce office space. The company's goal is to wire every one of its knowledge worker's homes with high-speed access for telecommuting by the end of 2002.