The number of employees working from home is increasing every week. Advances in technologies such as broadband internet, smart phones and cloud computing have both supported and promoted home working. The trust barriers are breaking down. Managers are now accepting more than ever that their employees will work effectively from home and, in fact, can make a greater contribution than when in the office. Home workers can often control their time and apply themselves in a highly motivated way. So employers can not only get the work done that they need, but can also save money by requiring less office space and equipment.
Currently 4 million employees work from home, some 14% of the UK workforce. Research by the Carbon Trust has suggested that 40% of all UK jobs are compatible with working from home. That research also indicated that only 35% of employers have a policy allowing their employees to work from home and in those companies less than half take up the homeworking opportunity.
These statistics will grow in favour of more homeworking as both employees and employers look to make financial gains. Employees will reduce their travel costs and parking which has now become a premium cost in many towns and cities and generates more control of their time which adds to the work-life balance requirements of today’s workers.
Employers benefit too. The research by the Carbon Trust suggests that UK employers may save £3 billion in costs if they maximise their ability to adopt home working. So maybe the time is right for all employers to review their approach to home working.
Dr Hugh Billot, Deputy Chairman
HR GO Group of Recruitment Companies
HR GO Recruitment offers solutions to all your staffing needs, temporary and permanent, please call 0845 130 7000
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