LESAGE & FILS implements telework for its employees

 Background – the company works on a just-in-time basis: orders are placed at any time with a peak between 10 a.m. and 12 noon, and then again between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., but some are also placed until late at night from restaurant customers. Order operators used to come at 4 a.m. to enter the orders that were placed during the night, for a next day delivery. Then, they went back home before returning to work at 9 a.m.

• They had to go to work twice which was dangerous, increased the risk of accident    –especially in winter– and led to sleep disorders.

Therefore, Lesage & Fils has decided to implement telework, since 2012. Telework has required the purchase of software so that teleoperators can enter the orders from home. The investments amount to about €12,000, which include a TSE-type server enabling the employees to remotely log on to the company’s server via the Internet, an effective firewall to secure the company’s data, a computer with Internet access for the teleworkers, and a system so that they can check their e-mails.

Personal problems involved in working at home (spouse, working hours, equipment…) have been considered and a “telework” specific contract of employment has been established.

Thus, entering the orders is now done late at night or just before going to work at 9 a.m., from the operators’ home. This represents 6.5 hours of telework over 4 days + a negotiated day off in lieu per week.