UK teleworkers pass the 3 million mark but uptake rate is still slow

Eclipse Internet, Kingston Communicationsí award-winning ISP, is calling for greater business understanding of the benefits of teleworking. In its new white paper, Eclipse Internet suggests that with the slow uptake of teleworking ñ increasing to just three million UK workers from one million a decade ago ñ there is a significant way to go before it becomes mainstream.

The major benefit of teleworking is that it allows businesses to cut costs whilst increasing staff productivity and work-life balance. For instance, the average cost of a work station in a UK office is 6,422. This rises to 14,778 in Londonís West End. In comparison, providing broadband, a PC/laptop and a phone to an employeeís home is an attractive alternative. However, although many of the larger corporations are already employing flexible working practices, smaller companies are still lagging behind.

Better working styles invariably lead to better, more productive, workers. On average, 20 per cent of workers spend over an hour a day commuting, with this figure rising sharply in the South East. In addition, according to the Labour Force Survey, over seven percent of people spend in excess of two hours a day commuting. With spiralling petrol, rail and congestion charge costs, ditching the commute is looking increasingly attractive to both businesses and employees.

ìWe are now past the ëearly adopterí phase for teleworking but smaller businesses are still just beginning to make the most of these practices. The cost and work-life benefits are still key drivers although teleworking is increasingly becoming a crucial part of the drive for greener and sustainable business.î commented Eclipse Director Mark Lang.

He continued, ìA major proportion of a businessí carbon footprint is generated through commuting. For instance, Eclipse recently became fully carbon neutral following an in-depth analysis of our carbon footprint. Employee commuting counted for 23 per cent of all emissions. Teleworking is one of a number of ways to quickly improve a businessí green credentials as well as its efficiency.î

Incorporating teleworking into daily business practice does not necessarily mean all workers abandoning the office all of the time. It is also possible to introduce many of the benefits by using hot desk sites, making workers out on the road better connected, or even allowing employees to work from a neighbourhood ëtelecentreí.

The newly-launched white paper on teleworking, tips on greener working and information on how to calculate the carbon footprint of your business are available at www.eclipse.net.uk/business.

Top Tips for Successful Teleworking:
1. Teleworking doesnít have to mean working from home. Incorporating mobile working, introducing hot desks and allowing workers to use a ëteleworking centreí all help businesses capitalise on teleworking benefits.

2. Itís not just senior management who should be able to take advantage of teleworking. For instance, teleworking can be implemented very effectively in contact centres. Using the latest technology, agents can just as easily be available and effective at home as in a large, purpose-built contact centre.

3. Teleworking shouldnít have to mean that companies become ëfacelessí. Although this is a major complaint about teleworking, in fact, the opposite can be true. Businesses can look at focusing on quality time with teams rather than quantity by building in training and social events.

4. Teleworking doesnít have to be an ëall or nothingí strategy. The vast proportion of teleworkers in the UK do so for an average of 1.5 days a week. Building in this flexibility does however have a major positive impact.

5. Businesses should accept that teleworking will require a shift in culture with employees being out of sight. However, this can have a positive impact, making employees more accountable for the results they deliver rather than the time they spend in the office.