Apr 17 2008
Genesys, a global multi-media collaboration service leader, today announced the results of its annual Earth Day Green Survey of more than 18,000 customers to learn how behaviors are evolving in the workplace to address environmental issues and concerns. This year's findings show a significant increase in attention to Green behaviors and an escalating trend toward conducting work through virtual meetings whenever possible.
“Think and Act Green” is on the rise:
- More than half of respondents (56%) believe that their company has taken meaningful steps toward more Green behavior since last Earth Day.
- And this is good news - since a full 70% of respondents believe that companies, rather than employees, should take the lead in executing and promoting Green behaviors in the workplace.
- Unnecessary travel continues to be a primary Green tactic - 62% of respondents say that their employers have either issued companywide policies to reduce travel or asked managers to monitor travel needs more closely.
Virtual meetings are becoming a workplace way of life:
- A full 87% of workplace meetings held with others outside the office now are conducted virtually, by phone and web conference.
- And “act virtual” is now becoming such a habit that 40% of meetings with people inside their own office are conducted virtually, by phone and web conference.
- A full 32% of respondents say that they work during their vacations at least half the time or “always.”
- And, nearly 60% of respondents would prefer to participate in an important meeting by phone or web conference while on vacation rather than let it pass them by without getting their views known.
“The most effective Green behaviors are those that provide benefits to the people doing them as well as to the environment,” said Denise Persson, Executive Vice President of Marketing, Genesys. “Virtual meetings that take place by phone and web conference really started as part of a movement to save costs both in dollars and environmental pollution, and reduced travel continues to be one of the biggest impacts we can make on our environment. But now, people have embraced virtual meetings as a way to manage work and personal life more on their own terms, mixing work and play in a way previous generations never imagined. People are doing nearly half of their onsite meetings virtually because they find it more efficient. And they are even choosing to tap into important work conversations while on vacation, because it’s so easy to do so. This trend will grow and make for a more balanced work and life even as it produces a cleaner environment.”