PRESS RELEASE | Working from home cuts congestion says Minister - Telework Association agrees

The Telework Association welcomes the news that Norman Baker, a transport minister, is to urge employers to allow staff to work one day a fortnight from home as part of the Government's drive to cut transport congestion

The Telework Association has been working for almost two decades to get home working recognised as a benefit to businesses and the environment, and not just to individuals. We see this therefore as a very positive step in the right direction. We believe that teleworking makes a great contribution to work life balance and employee wellbeing. However, unless it is recognised as also having wider business and societal benefits, it will continue to be an uphill struggle to get organisations to adopt it as part of their standard employment practices.

Peter Thomson, Director of Research at the Telework Association said, "This sounds like a good start. It recognises that home working need not be all or nothing. Just one day a fortnight can benefit employers, employees and the environment.

"If we can get government to encourage homeworking on the basis that it also improves productivity, reduces absenteeism and saves real estate costs, then the economy will benefit as well as the environment."

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

About the Telework Association (www.telework.org.uk):-

The Telework Association is the leading European organisation promoting flexible and remote working and providing services to individuals and organisations involved in telework. Founded in 1992, the association provides regular communications to members in the form of a weekly newsletter and a quarterly magazine.

The association has carried out research into various aspects of remote working including the productivity of home working compared with conventional work. This report shows that people working at home produce substantially more than when they work in an office.

As well as carrying out its own research, the association has gathered expertise from other sources and provides information to members both corporate and individual.

As promoters of teleworking the Association is able to provide informed comment on issues such as government policy and business practice in the field of remote working. The association supports teleworking as a solution to business problems, a contribution to environmental goals and a source of improved quality of life.

For further information and/or a copy of the Productivity Report, contact:

Peter Thomson, Director of Research email peter@telework.org.uk or telephone 07880710026

Shirley Borrett, Development Director email: shirley@telework.org.uk or telephone 07831 307890
14/7/2010