Telecommuting and remote work allowed many organizations to maintain business continuity through the pandemic. It also presented challenges and risks that must now be considered when planning for long-term and permanent implementation of flexible work arrangements. TRB hosted a webinar on Monday, May 20, 2024 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM Eastern that discussed the challenges, risks, and considerations of telecommuting, remote work, and hybrid schedules. Presenters shared mitigation strategies for both organizational and employee barriers. Presenters also provided practical tools to help measure organizational readiness to implement flexible work arrangements, determine employee and job suitability for telework, and manage remote employees.

This webinar was based on NCHRP Research Report 1072: Telecommuting, Remote Work, and Hybrid Schedules: Managing the Shift to a Flexible Work Future.

This webinar was sponsored by TRB’s National Cooperative Highway Research Program.

The slides are linked in the meeting materials. View the recorded webinar below.

Webinar agenda and presenters

1. Introduction and background on research and flexible work arrangements – Beth Heinen, ICF

2. Implementing flexible work arrangements: Guide components, overview of telework tools – Chelsey Jackson, ICF

3. Measuring performance and productivity while teleworking: Conversation guidance for managers, best practices for performance management, metrics to measure program success – Jackie Marhefka, ICF

4. Question and answer session moderated by Stephanie Brown, ICF

The first 60 minutes of the webinar were for presentations and the final 30 minutes were reserved for audience questions.

Learning Objectives

At the end of this webinar, participants can:

1. Assess readiness to implement flexible work arrangements and determine appropriate mitigation strategies for identified challenges, risks, or barriers

2. Examine employee and job suitability for flexible work arrangements

3. Manage employees that participate in flexible work arrangements, including measuring performance and productivity while remote

Professional Development Hours

This webinar was delivered as a scheduled – e-learning live event and is categorized within RCEP as Technical, Health and Safety.

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) earned on completion of this program were reported to the Registered Continuing Education Program (RCEP). Certificates of Completion are issued to all participants via the RCEP.net online system. Complaints about registered providers may be addressed to RCEP, 1015 15th Street, NW, 8th Fl., Washington, DC, 20005.