WIREDGOV

Technology is enabling people to work virtually anywhere

Be part of National Work from Home Day and work from home on Friday May 18. Organisations and employees across the UK, both public and private, are being invited to take part in the national day to demonstrate the benefits of home working.

Many people can easily do their jobs from home. Even just working from home for one day a week will have a profound impact upon traffic congestion and public transport overcrowding – just look what happens during the school holidays!

Working from home also significantly improves productivity, enabling businesses to be more competitive, and enhances work-life balance for staff, with added health and leisure benefits.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, the not-for-profit organisation behind National Work from Home Day, said: “Technology is enabling people to work virtually anywhere. National Work from Home Day is not an excuse for an extra day off, it is a serious attempt for people and organisations to try out home working.

“For many, there is absolutely no reason to waste hours commuting into a central locations every day of the week. Why not work from home occasionally?”

Many businesses have reported that the introduction of smarter working practices has resulted in better productivity, and improvements in employee relations and staff retention. BT, one of the UK’s major employers, has experienced a 20 per cent increase in productivity following the introduction of smarter working.

Work Wise Week is being staged by Work Wise UK, a major five-year initiative, supported by the TUC and CBI, to encourage the widespread adoption of new smarter working practices, such as home working, across the UK.

Smarter working practices revolutionise the way people work and lead to increased business productivity and competitiveness, reduced transport congestion and pollution, improved health, assist disadvantaged groups, and harmonise work and family commitments.

Further information about Work Wise UK, and how organisations can participate in Work Wise Week, can be found on the website (www.workwiseuk.org ).



Notes to editors:

. Supporters of the Work Wise UK campaign include the CBI, TUC, the British Chambers of Commerce, BT, Transport for London, Scope, the RAC Foundation, Technology Means Business, Henley Management College and the Association for Commuter Transport.

.Work Wise UK is organised by the IT Forum Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.

.Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on the website www.workwiseuk.org.  

.A dedicated electronic media centre has been established for journalists to obtain further information, to download print-quality materials, and to register for media updates about Work Wise UK. This can be accessed either through the main website or directly at www.workwiseuk.pressrooms.net.  

For further information, please contact:

Work Wise UK: Roy Turner, Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or 07970 522232 or
rt@chelgate.com  

Michael Hardware, Chelgate PR
020 7939 7939 or 07775 925 274 or
meh@chelgate.com  


Direct telephone: 020 7939 7989
Mobile: 07775 925274