Based on an Aug. 14, 2003 press release by TrueCareers, Inc, a Reston, VA online job search service and a division of Sallie Mae, 84% of employees value telecommuting options in their job searches.

"Eighty-four percent of survey respondents say the ability to work from home a few days a week or full time is important when looking for a new job. The survey also found that 80 percent believe that telecommuting would make them more productive in their current jobs.

Of the more than 200 respondents, 47 percent say they currently telecommute. An additional 33 percent have considered working from home. Of the employees that do telecommute, 41 percent work from home at least 20 hours a week. "

A related article, Survey: Telecommuting option vital in job searches, was run in both the Houston Business Journal and the Austin Business Journal (8/14/03), which also reported:

"Because of declining air quality in the area, the city of Austin has encouraged its employees to reduce vehicle travel by 15 percent through telecommuting and other means. A 2000 survey by market research firm Central Texas Directions found nearly one-fifth of Central Texans with Internet access were telecommuters."

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