June 30, 2003
BROADBAND-ENHANCED TELEWORKING OPTIONS FUEL WORK-LIFE BALANCE GROWTH FOR AMERICANS

New research from Cox Communications identifies growing "Hy-Life" among employed adults

ATLANTA (June 30, 2003) – Motivated by a desire for a better work-life balance, over 27% of the U.S. adult employed population are now teleworkers, according to a national survey of 1,000 adults conducted by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of Cox Business Services, the commercial sales arm for Atlanta-based Cox Communications, Inc. Teleworkers are people who do some form of work away from the office, work from home or have a combination of remote and onsite work habits.

Survey results indicated that the majority of teleworkers (75%) are remote teleworkers who check their e-mail and do work outside the office under less structured teleworking arrangements while 25% are dedicated teleworkers working a committed work schedule from a home office with equipment provided by their employer. Although most Americans don’t typically describe themselves as teleworkers, they are reaping the benefits of this increasingly flexible lifestyle. Sixty one percent of the individuals surveyed cite more time with family and helping the environment (50%) among the benefits of teleworking.

"Workers now consider themselves more in control of their work-life balance than ever before," said Mark Goldstein, teleworking expert with the International Research Center. "Telework offers the option to see your kids off to school while still checking e-mail at the office. Americans no longer have to choose work or life when they can have both."

American Hy-Life

Cox Business has coined a new phrase to describe this hybrid lifestyle that lets employers and their employees achieve a healthy balance between work and personal time – The Hy-Life. Whereas the term might have once conjured up images of martinis, mink coats and front row seats to a Frank Sinatra concert, living the Hy-Life now means eliminating the need to make the choice between a successful career and a fulfilling life. The Hy-Life theory postulates that a business or a worker can significantly maximize business and personal efficiencies via broadband access at the office and home.

Noting that 51% of all teleworkers surveyed cite a high-speed or broadband Internet connection as an essential requirement for an ideal teleworking arrangement, Goldstein credits improved technology, such as high speed virtual private networks (VPN), and greater consumer acceptance of broadband as key enablers. "While teleworking is not a new concept, the access provided by broadband from a resource standpoint now makes the added value of teleworking more widely available," he added.

"Broadband connectivity has changed how, where and when Americans work and play," explained Pat Esser, EVP, Operations for Cox. "With the help of broadband, Hy-Life moves the work to the workers and offers the technology to do it productively, easily and securely. We view VPN access at home as a growing driver for the consumer broadband category and as an increasingly popular solution for enterprises seeking tailored employee telework programs. "

According to the survey, the appeal of teleworking cuts across gender boundaries. Remote teleworkers tend to be men in their mid-to-late 20s and 30s. Dedicated teleworkers tend to be women in their mid-to-late 30s and 40s with children under 12 at home. Both types of teleworkers are well-educated, high earners (income of $50K+), in dual-income households. Over half (53%) of teleworkers are teleworking three or more days per week. One in six are teleworking strictly outside of business hours.

Enhanced Business Results & R.O.I.

Teleworking benefits employers much as their employees. Seventy percent of teleworkers surveyed and 66% of their managers believe that teleworking improves productivity. Fifty-two percent of all teleworkers claim they feel a stronger sense of loyalty to their employer due to their teleworking arrangement.

According to the International Telework Association and Council (ITAC), teleworking reduces turnover by 20 percent on average, boosts productivity by 22 percent, and trims absenteeism by 60 percent. In addition, ITAC states that U.S. employers stand to save $441 billion annually from reduced absenteeism, recruiting costs and increased productivity.

Although greater adoption of teleworking practices in the past was inhibited by the restrictions of dial-up services in combination with an old "out of sight, out of mind" mentality, the survey results indicate attitudes have shifted as more Americans strive for control over their work-life balance. Growing access to broadband connectivity has removed many of the technological barriers to building successful teleworking programs.

Recognizing that teleworking is good for business and great for the human being, Cox promotes teleworking programs in the communities it serves and has created a comprehensive resource website at www.hy-life.com to help businesses get started. Tips and comprehensive checklists on creating a telework employee program, adding VPN functionality to a business’ existing IT and communications infrastructure, case studies of companies today living the Hy-Life and an employee work at home toolkit are included.

About Cox Virtual Private Network

Cox Business believes that providing broadband connectivity is critical for employers wishing to empower their employees to live the Hy-Life. Cox’s Virtual Private Network (VPN) establishes a remote teleworker connection delivered over Cox's hybrid fiber coaxial (HFC) network. Corporate and satellite offices in the Cox managed VPN are served on either the company's fiber based network or HFC. Remote workers have an "always on" broadband connection, with speeds up to 3.0 Mbps downstream and 384 Kbps upstream and can access their company's network and files just as though they were in the office - all without dial-up delays. Cox's solution is IP based, easy-to-use and cost-effective. Cox's VPN is also easily scalable, supporting up to 1000 tunnels and 200 Mbps of throughput.

About Cox Business

Cox Business is an affiliate of Atlanta-based Cox Communications, Inc., the nation’s fourth largest cable broadband communications company. A full-service, facilities-based provider of telecommunications solutions, Cox Business serves home offices; small, medium and large-sized businesses; school districts; and hospitality, government and military properties in cities across the nation. Cox offers high-speed Internet services; switched voice services and long-distance; and dedicated voice, data and video transport services. More information about Cox Business can be accessed on the Internet at www.coxbusiness.com.