Location: Dublin (5 locations), Midlands and South East (2 regional offices in Tullamore and Kilkenny, 26 branches), The West (Office in Galway and 17 branches), South West (Office in Cork and 33 branches), Northern (Office in Monaghan and 17 branches).

Funding: €15,800

Description:
The introduction of a Teleworking Scheme on a pilot basis involving four employees from four work sections within the Union. Home based offices were linked directly to the office base for communicative and technological purposes.

Number of employees:  

	Total	Male	Female
Employed	360	165	194
Participated*	4	2	2

Achievements:
Two female employees at Administrative Assistant grade now work a number of days per week from home and one male at Industrial grade works 2.5 days at home where the main functions are linked to data analysis. The work of the fourth candidate was not specified.

Barriers:
One obstacle encountered to date has been the application of staff insurance while working from home. Temporary arrangements were made in regard to this but further consideration will be necessary.

Lessons:
The organisation was pleased with the level of co-operation from all staff at all levels within the work section. Normal difficulties which have arisen have been worked out at local level and there has been a large degree of goodwill for the success of the project. The single greatest lesson, remarked upon by the employer, is that by the direct involvement of staff in the development of the project solutions were not seen as imposed but were allowed to be developed by the users.

Future Developments:
The Union is embarking upon a complete restructuring programme over the coming months in which the provision of employment options will be paramount to the programme's overall success. Through the firsthand experience of the teleworking process in this project, the advantages are apparent to the organisation and they will be much more inclined to encourage staff to participate in it.

"In overall terms this has been a very worthwhile process and a very valuable learning experience. It certainly served to alleviate fears of those who while not directly taking part maybe managed staff who are."