Millions ditch the office for home

Millions of people did not turn up for work this morning but they won't be facing a telling off by their boss tomorrow as today is National Work from Home Day

Work Wise UK, the not-for-profit organisation behind the initiative, claims five million workers are taking part.

The aim of the scheme is to demonstrate the value of avoiding the stresses and strains associated with the traditional workplace environment. Organisers say that without the often long commute many have to endure, people can be more productive.

The environment also benefits, Work Wise UK says, due to less people on roads and using public transport which cuts CO2 emissions.

"This is not a utopia," said Phil Flaxton, the organisation's chief executive. "This will be reality as smarter working practices, such as home working, become more widely adopted.

"Even if staff worked only an average of one day every two weeks at home, this would result in 10% less people commuting and travelling. Think of the impact that would have on our roads, trains and buses."

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, added: "Being able to work from home every now and again is a sensible move for individuals and their employers.

"The employee avoids the stressful daily commute and can concentrate on work without the usual office distractions. Time saved can be spent on things not normally possible during the working day, like collecting the kids early from school.

"Employers benefit because their staff feel more relaxed and trusted and are likely to get more work done."

Around 3.5m people already work from home, 12% or one-in-eight of the working population and an increase of 600,000 since 1997.

The highest proportion of home workers is in the south west with 15.7%, followed by eastern England with 14.4%. The lowest is in the north east where only 9.3% of employees work from home.

BusinessZONE 15th May 2008



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