With imagination, huge numbers of jobs could be teleworked. Teleworking gives a chance to reduce substantially the amount of office space needed. A 1994 survey for British Telecom showed that City firms could save pounds sterling 21,000 pa for each senior manager teleworking. Other businesses will not benefit quite so much, but will still save thousands of pounds each year for every teleworker. Productivity is, on average, higher among teleworkers, with about half of employers of teleworkers reporting productivity increases, and only one in twenty reporting reductions.
Studies also report an average reduction in days off 'sick' of two days per year.
There is also a possibility of recruiting and retaining trained and talented staff that would not otherwise be available for employment. There are, however, possible disadvantages in teleworking. Teleworking requires management by results, rather than the 'over the shoulder' methods that managers may be used to. Equally there are potential problems for teleworkers that responsible employers need to guard against. Similarly, unless specific measures are taken to avoid the problem, teleworkers may be at a disadvantage when promotion becomes available.