BWCC Workforce Summit Panel

How to Manage a Flexible Workforce: Flexible Worker Perspective

Stephen C. Hall

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• What is Intertek APTECH?– Specialty engineering consulting company that is

part of the Intertek family of companies specializing in risk analysis, integrity management, and forensic engineering for the energy sector.

• What do we do?– Using multi-discipline engineering teams, we

assist clients in defining operating risk and developing cost-effective strategies for minimizing that risk.

• Work Environment– Approximately 30% of 90 person work force are

flexible workers with ages running from the early thirties into the mid seventies

– Offices in Houston, Texas and Sunnyvale, California, we have people working remotely in several states and provinces

• What does the company look for in a flexible worker?– Expertise– Disciplined work ethic– Willingness to travel– Accessibility

• Advantages– Intertek APTECH – Lower overhead, ability to

interface with international clients “off-hours”, travel cost reduction, no relocation costs, more efficient use of part time employees

– Employee – Higher productivity (less “Chit chat”, can set own work hours, no commute, “relaxed” dress code

• Disadvantages– Intertek APTECH – “Out of sight, out of mind”,

potential loss of cohesiveness – Employee – Coordination of effort more difficult,

diminishing of contact

• Keys to successful work flexibility– Disciplined work ethic; work as if you are in the

office– High productivity– Appropriate work environment– Trust– Appropriate for the tasks that must be

accomplished