Alaska senators and their staffs find alternate places to work, by Lis Ruskin, Anchorage Daily News (Feb 4, 2004) provides an update of how Alaska's two U.S. senators are dealing with the Risen scare that shut down the Hart Senate Office Building, closed Tuesday due to the discovery of ricin, a deadly toxin: a combination of alternative office, telework, and meetings at nearby coffee shops.

'"Luckily, due to technology, we've all been in constant contact, through Blackberries (wireless e-mail devices), cell phones and laptops," Pugh said.'

The Pacific Business News reports in E-mail your congressman: snail mail interrupted that Hawaiian Senator Daniel Inouye "is working from the Capitol building itself while most of his staff will telework from their homes."

9:23:18 AM    
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The Washington Buisness Journal article, Despite snow, workers take no breaks, by Roger Hughlett (Jan. 30, 2004), adds evidence that attitudes towards telework are changing, at least when winter weather makes commuting even more difficult than usual.

"Life goes on," says Dave Christovich, vice president of business development at Alexandria-based Sentel (www.sentel.com), a software and consulting firm. "... You don't need your fanny in the seat to do your job."

The article also points out a number of jobs that just can't be done remotely. People with hands-on jobs may still need to make their way into work, but at least they face a much lighter traffic load when those that can work from home, do.

9:08:57 AM    
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