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Citrix Online Survey Reveals 70% of Americans Aged 18-34 Prefer Employers Who Allow Them to Web Commute
Thursday 21. February 2008 - "Web Commuters" Can Take Their Office with Them Wherever They Go, Work from Anywhere
study entitled “Web Commuting & the American Workforce,” commissioned by Citrix Online, a division of Citrix Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTXS), indicates that U.S. workers aged 18-34 prefer flexible working conditions 2:1 over other age groups. In fact, 70% of survey respondents agreed that working remotely would be a welcome opportunity. In an era where acquiring and retaining good employees is a challenge, and the workforce is becoming increasingly young and mobile, offering the ability to Web commute can serve as a competitive edge for recruiters.
“Web commuter” is a new term applied to the growing number of people performing at least part of their jobs from virtually anywhere, at any hour of the day, thanks to technology that allows them to “take their office with them” wherever they go. The national Web commuter survey, conducted by the polling company, inc. shows that:
Although 23% of American workers regularly work from an offsite location, using Web technology to do their jobs, 62% of those who dont currently Web commute agreed they would like to do so.
Respondents aged 18-34 were more apt than most to look forward to controlling their own schedules, while 35-44 year olds said they would prize more time with family.
Overall, the younger the respondent, the more apt he or she was to perceive value in online tools and services that enable them to work remotely.
The difference between the values expressed by younger workers versus others makes sense, given the proportionally higher facility with the Internet among Generations X and Y than among older workers.
“As Baby Boomers retire, employers will be forced to compete for younger workers, for whom technology is a native tongue,” said Kellyanne Conway, CEO and president of the polling company, inc. “Offering the ability to Web commute is an easy way to provide a valued benefit to this age group.”
The polling company survey was sponsored by Citrix Online, a provider of easy-to-use, secure and affordable Web-based services for remote computer access and online collaboration. Citrix Online coined the term “Web commuting” to describe the behavior uncovered in the survey.
“Anyone of any age can benefit from new, low-cost technologies that are as easy to use and as indispensable as e-mail and cell phones,” said Bernardo de Albergaria, vice president and general manager, global marketing and eCommerce for Citrix Online. “Younger workers expect freedom and flexibility, and online remote access and collaboration services enable people to work on their own terms. When employers provide these tools for connecting employees with their PCs, customers, prospects and co-workers across town or halfway around the world, everyone benefits.”
Using Citrix Online on-demand tools that can be instantly accessed over the Internet from any computer, Web commuters can view and use everything on their desktop, including all of their files, e-mail and other applications – exactly as if they were sitting in front of their own PCs. They can show their computer screens to other people while speaking with them on the phone, and even deliver presentations to large groups of audiences from a home-office PC. All of these tools make it possible for employers to recruit workers across a broad geographic area because its not essential for employees to be at their desks in a traditional office environment every day,
Citrix Onlines suite of Web-based services include:
Citrix GoToAssist, for real-time remote support
Citrix GoToMeeting, for online meetings
Citrix GoToMyPC, for people to remotely access their desktop PC
Citrix GoToWebinar, for do-it-yourself presentations to up to 1,000 people