Employees around the UK are working in comfort today on the second annual Work from Home day, promoted by Work Wise UK.
British workers can spend up to 47 days a year commuting to and from the office; time that could be better spent with loved ones or on leisure activities, it said.
More home working among the UK workforce would mean less congestion, reduced carbon emissions and a drop in levels of crowding on public transport.
Work Wise said it expected millions of people to use the day to sample the benefits of working from home.
"Not only will they have avoided the fight through over-crowded public transport or frustration sitting in traffic jams," it said, "They will have saved a few hours in time and been able to start work un-flustered and un-stressed."
Research by the Office of National Statistics found that around 12% of workers work either regularly or permanently from home.
"Although some would suggest this could be an excuse to skive, or to extend the weekend, it has been demonstrated that enabling staff to work from home, even occasionally, increases productivity," said Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK.
"BT currently employs 64,000 flexible workers and 11,500 contracted full time home workers," he added. "Where it has introduced these 'smarter' working practices, it has seen a 20% increase in productivity."
Date:18 May 2007
|
