Work it out - life can be a lot better

May 5 2007 By Ross Smith, The Journal

Companies across the North-East are being asked to take part in a week-long trial to "smarter working" this month - as a campaign to end the nine-to-five culture gathers pace.

A Work Wise Week between May 16 and 22 has been designated part of the regional effort to introduce more flexible working.

Employers will be asked to encourage their staff to try home, flexible, mobile and remote working so they can assess the benefits.

Ideas being suggested to bosses to try out for the week include allowing staff to start their shift either an hour earlier or later so workers can avoid the busiest travel times, and create a staggered rush hour. Companies will be urged to cancel all face-to-face external staff meetings and hold them by conference call instead - saving time and resources, while cutting congestion and pollution.

And Friday May 18 has been dubbed National Work from Home Day, in which workers will be encouraged not to travel into the office.

Simon Roberson, regional chair of Work Wise North-East said: "We urge all organisations across the North-East to take up the Work Wise mantle.

"Smarter working will revolutionise the way people work and increase business productivity and competitiveness. It will also reduce transport congestion and pollution, improve health, and assist disadvantaged groups.

"Wide adoption of smarter working practices is the obvious answer in tackling some of the issues that face our society today."

Business leaders are convinced flexible working can bring benefits, but have called on Government to do more to support firms who want to implement it.

North-East Chamber of Commerce chief executive James Ramsbotham said: "Flexible working can be a tremendous asset to businesses of all sizes as long as we don't weigh firms down with mountains of red tape. Small and medium businesses in particular need practical guidance about how they can work more flexibly at low cost.

"The Government can play a major leadership role in helping these companies be more responsive to the needs of their employees."

The North-East was the first region to adopt the pioneering Work Wise campaign, with an official launch staged in February.

* Work Wise has been backed by a string of organisations, including Government Office North-East, One NorthEast, the CBI, TUC and The Journal.