‘Cut jams by working from home’
Mar 20 2008 by Adrian Pearson, The Journal
TRAFFIC problems in the North could be eased by encouraging businesses to drop their routine office hours.
Flexible working campaigners say changes to the start time for employees could be a simple alternative to road pricing schemes currently being considered by the five Tyne and Wear councils.
Work Wise North East is encouraging councils to follow the example of other North businesses and move away from the nine to five.
The campaigners believe councils could city centre jams by allowing their thousands of employees to arrive earlier or later, or even work away from the office.
Work Wise North East chairman Simon Roberson said the changes could prevent the need for road charges.
“The congestion issues that have hit the North East headlines recently all lead to increased costs to business, wasted time for employees commuting and damage to the environment.
“How many workers commute to the office, go out for meetings during the day, then return to the office before commuting home again?
“Much more productive is to start the working day from home then travel off peak. If everyone worked from home just one day a week, we could cut commuting traffic by 20% immediately.” South Tyneside Council deputy leader Iain Malcolm, who sits on a European Union committee exploring traffic congestion, has urged commuter change.
Coun Malcolm said: “Congestion charging is one way of tackling rush-hour snarl-ups and it has its place. But I don’t think we are ready for that yet. There are other ways, such as flexible working, that can contribute to reducing traffic at peak times.
“The focus until now has been on technical issues, such as emissions standards for vehicles and building a better road and public transport network rather than changing the way we behave and operate in our daily lives.
“Increased opportunities for flexible working will ensure that changes are more sustainable both economically and environmentally.”
The suggestion comes as the Work Wise team prepare to celebrate their first anniversary next week.
As part of the anniversary business leaders will gather in Durham to plan their next steps in the push for flexible hours and more opportunities to work from home.
Speakers at the Work Wise North East event will tell delegates how the policy has led to an increase in productivity among members.
The Work Wise anniversary will be marked at Ramside Hall, Durham, on Friday next week.
