Dear Petrol, Fiere di Parma doubles its use of remote working

In response to rising petrol prices, Fiere di Parma is doubling its use of remote working and allowing its 90 employees to work from home for one extra day a week – that is, four days a month – to reduce the cost of commuting. From this month, everyone will be able to choose a second day a week for remote working in addition to the one already in place. The company points out that this second day of remote working is not compulsory, but represents an additional option and a choice that confirms the effectiveness of the organisational model adopted, increasing flexibility in a sector where the intensity of trade fair activity and the nature of many roles make physical presence essential.

The measure has been designed to send a clear signal regarding one of the items of expenditure that is having an ever-greater impact on the household budgets of workers and their families, even at a time when the high cost of fuel has eased somewhat thanks to initiatives by a number of companies, from Eni to IP and Q8. “At a time when the cost of travel is placing an ever-greater strain on household budgets, we felt it was important to take action with a simple yet tangible measure to support our staff,” explains Antonio Cellie, Chief Executive of Fiere di Parma. “We have chosen to expand a working arrangement already in place within the company, giving everyone the option to take an additional day of remote working. This means immediately reducing a daily expense and offering staff and their families an extra tool to cope with this period. Caring for people has always been one of Fiere di Parma’s core values,” adds the manager.

Fiere di Parma’s decision is in line with the guidance provided by the International Energy Agency, which identifies remote working as one of the effective ways of reducing fuel consumption associated with commuting between home and work. In the case of Fiere di Parma’s staff, the benefit has also been quantified through two simulations. For those who travel more than 30 kilometres a day, each day of remote working avoids, on average, around 47.5 kilometres of home-to-work travel (there and back). Over the three-month period, taking into account 12 additional days of remote working, this equates to approximately 570 kilometres avoided, 35 litres of fuel saved, a financial saving of around 76 euros and a reduction of approximately 90 kilograms of CO₂. If, on the other hand, we consider a total of two days of remote working per week, the benefit for the October–December quarter rises to around 1,140 kilometres of travel avoided, 70 litres of fuel saved, total financial savings of around 150 euros and around 180 kilograms less CO₂. For those in the highest travel bracket – over 50 kilometres a day, for example around 60 kilometres for a return journey – the individual saving relating solely to that one additional day of remote working can amount, in the October–December quarter, to around 96 euros in fuel costs, with around 112 kilograms of CO₂ avoided. Taking into account the two days of remote working per week, the benefit can amount to around 200 euros in fuel savings alone, with approximately 220 kilograms of CO₂ avoided.