The WDC has been practicing and researching remote working for over 20 years.
In 2003 the WDC developed a tele-working policy, formalising a practice that had been in place since its establishment.
The policy analysis team has produced various reports on remote working, which have examined the incidence and practice of remote working (variously called tele-work and e-work), including the 2017 Policy Briefing: e-Working in the Western Region: A Review of the Evidence.
In 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic, the WDC, in collaboration with the Whitaker Institute at NUI Galway had started to examine remote working. There had been a renewed interest in the practice largely driven by the need to retain talent, improving technology, the move to a low carbon economy and regional and rural development.
Since the practice of enforced working from home due to Covid restrictions, the WDC has continued to examine and report on the issue and conducted large scale national surveys, capturing the views of employees and employers.
View all publications on Remote Work