Teleworking may just be the cure to the common commute. That begs the question, well, what else can it cure? The latest outbreak of swine flu? The next global health threat? The longest recession since the Great Depression?

… maybe not. The correlation there can’t be so simple. But perhaps teleworking could ameliorate some of the negative effects future crises may have on the economy.

The recent swine flu pandemic resulted in a complete and total shut-down of all Mexico government offices and businesses for nearly a week. 111 million people were told to stay indoors for five days in order to prevent more infections. See the video here:

Mexico’s Ministry of Finance estimated the swine flu could reduce GDP by as much as 1%. With the current recession, these effects have felt even more severe.

These losses have also been felt in the United States due partly to higher absentee rates experienced by businesses as more people choose to stay home, per President Barack Obama's advice, when they are sick. Consequently, people also earn less and spend less in a time when the economy needs consumers to spend more.

The outbreak has prompted government agencies to review their "flu survivability". This includes, in the event of a pandemic, the ability to continue to work outside the office. Companies with solid telework plans in place are the most prepared if a pandemic escalates to the point of widespread absenteeism or building closures. Employees are able to avoid contact with others to minimize risk of infection and continue to remain productive throughout the threat. The more businesses allow their employees to telework, the smaller the hit will be to businesses and the economy in terms of cost and productivity.

Teleworking may not be the whole cure to the pandemic, but it could be one ingredient to the antidote.

Adeel Lari, M.B.A., P.E.
Director of Innovative Financing, Research Fellow, and Teleworker
Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs
University of Minnesota