Work Wise UK, the national campaign backed by the TUC and CBI to promote smarter working practices, is not surprised by the results of the Unison report. Phil Flaxton, chief executive, said: ìWe all seem to be obsessed with the need to work 9 to 5, five days a week from a central location. This rigid work structure, which is dictated purely by culture and little else, is wasteful in terms of time and resources, damaging in terms of the environmental impact, and harmful in that it impacts upon stress levels and health of staff.
ìSmarter working is a win-win situation. Any costs will be outweighed by an increase in productivity, and the social benefits of an improved work-life balance for employees will be far-reaching.
ìAdd to that the environmental impact of reduced travel, one of the solutions for the issues raised by the Eddington Report last week, and the Stern Report last month, is staring us all in the face.î
Work Wise UK, which has broad backing from business and the unions, supported by the TUC, CBI, BT, the RAC Foundation, Transport for London and British Chambers of Commerce, is a five-year campaign to encourage smarter working practices. It was launched in May this year with the objective of half the working population having the opportunity of adopting working practices by 2011.
Further details about Work Wise UK can be found on the website.
Public sector bosses need to see the wider picture over smarter working
Response to Unison study of flexible working in the public sector
