Telecommuting Encouraged by Record Number of Companies.

--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Acceptance of Telecommuting Highest Among Insurance and High- Tech Companies, Although Overall Actual Usage Remains Low at 7%

MELVILLE, N.Y.--July 25, 1996--Employee telecommuting is now being offered or under consideration by a record number of North American firms according to the latest North American survey of senior executives by Olsten Corporation, one of the world's leading staffing services companies.

Nearly two in three (62 percent) companies are encouraging telecommuting arrangements with their employees, up from 49 percent last year and 39 percent in 1993. More than two in five (42 percent) companies actually have telecommuting programs underway, while 70 percent of firms surveyed predict that telecommuting will increase during this year. However, overall employee participation in telecommuting remains extremely low with only 7 percent of workers taking advantage of company telecommuting programs.

Client/server networks are clearly driving telecommuting's expansion in the workplace by allowing employees to work, via modem and computer, from home or while traveling. More than half (55 percent) of firms with client/server networks have existing telecommuting arrangements in comparison to companies with Local Area Networks (LANs) (27 percent) and centralized computer systems (19 percent).

These and other findings are disclosed in "Managing Today's Automated Workplace," the 1996 Olsten Forum(TM) for Information Management. The survey reflects the views and attitudes of over 300 North American senior corporate executives on information systems management, IS training and staffing trends, and automated workplace issues. Olsten Corporation is a world leader in staffing services primarily through its Olsten Staffing Services operations in North America and related staffing operations in Europe and Latin America. The Company has a growing presence in information technology services primarily through IMI Systems Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary, and in other professional services such as accounting/finance, legal, engineering/technical and administration.

"Telecommuting has become a more viable option for many professionals as a result of increased computer literacy and improved computer technology," says Adrienne Plotch, vice president of Olsten Staffing Services. "The desire for a more flexible work schedule, working parents who want to spend more time with their families, and the need to comply with the Clean Air Act make telecommuting a useful alternative."

Insurance companies reported the highest use of telecommuting (52 percent), followed by high-tech firms (50 percent), retail/wholesale businesses (46 percent), manufacturing and construction firms (43 percent), and utilities and transportation companies (40 percent).

Among firms promoting telecommuting, professional and technical employees telecommute at nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of survey respondents, sales and marketing professionals at almost half (48 percent), and accountants at more than a quarter (27 percent).

According to other Olsten Forum findings:

-- Companies report an increased emphasis on employee computer training with more than four in five (84 percent) training their administrative staff, more than half (55 percent) training their customer service personnel, and one-third (33 percent) training their warehouse and distribution employees.

-- With less than four years left in this century, 62 percent of companies are now taking steps to deal with the "Millennium Bug" or "Year 2000" issue, a data processing program language quirk that is expected to cause wide-spread computer software problems. More than one in five (21 percent) firms surveyed say the "Millenium Bug" will not cause their firm difficulties, while nearly one in six (13 percent) say they are unaware of the issue.

-- More than two in five (43 percent) companies have established home pages on the World Wide Web. Almost all (95 percent) firms use their home pages to communicate general marketing information while 33 percent use their Web sites for `Intranet' functions such as e-mail and workgroup applications, 24 percent conduct business transactions through their home pages and 17 percent use their Web sites to recruit personnel.

Olsten Corporation (NYSE: OLS) -- in addition to being a world leader in staffing services -- is North America's largest provider of nome health care and related services. The company, primarily through Olsten Staffing Services and Olsten Kimberly QualityCare, operates a network of 1,300 offices in North America, South America, Great Britain and Continental Europe, providing assignment employees to business, industry and government; services for the design, development and maintenance of information systems; caregivers for home health care and institutions; and management services to hospital-based home health agencies. In 1995, Olsten Corporation employed 650,000 people and provided services to more than 500,000 client/patient accounts. The company reported 1995 systemwide sales of over $3 billion and revenues of more than $2.5 billion. -0- Survey Methodology The survey includes vice presidents and senior executives from a broad spectrum of North American businesses. Surveys were distributed by mail during March 1996 and 305 responses were received. The survey was conducted for Olsten Corporation by McKendrick & Associates, an independent research firm.

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