For global companies, implementing a new program can be a major operation. In the case of Crawford & Company, having its corporate headquarters in Atlanta offered an exceptional opportunity to test a telework program on a controlled scale, by working with The Clean Air Campaign.

When Crawford initially chose to implement a telework program, the overall size of the company – 700 offices in 63 countries – created some concern for potential technical and logistical challenges. Crawford & Company conquered this by choosing to test the waters with a small number of employees from the Information Technology and Finance divisions. Approximately 35 associates participated in the beginning, but within eight months that number had risen to 92. Due to Crawford’s careful planning, implementation went perfectly.

The response to the telework pilot program was been very positive, from both teleworkers and managers alike, and interest in the program is constantly increasing. Surveys show that 100 percent of telemanagers believe that employee morale had improved as a result of the program; 60 percent believe it helps in retention; and 80 percent believe teleworking is good for the company.