UK workers will go green or go home

- Home working demanded by two thirds of UK workforce by 2012

- An environmentally friendly working environment classed as imperative by three quarters of UK workforce

Environmental policies and home working are set to drive UK workers out of the office and into the home, according to research from Affiniti, the communications integrator. The research sought to find the top employee issues in the workplace and the factors that are most likely to change the way businesses operate.

Sealing the Deal
Companies wanting to recruit the best candidates are facing a growing trend amongst UK workers (37%) who will only consider roles offering flexible working. The business landscape is set to change within just 5-10 years, as a further two thirds of UK workers are demanding home working within that time scale.

Go green to go forward
Being green is now considered critical by UK workers. Three quarters consider it important and a fifth feel that the environment will become the top priority for businesses in the future. Businesses themselves believe that the environment will far surpass other factors in driving change, including: the need to retain good employees (15 per cent), globalisation (11 per cent) and regulatory compliance (9 per cent).

Itís all hot air
However, a third of companies still donít have any type of environmental policy in place. Just 5% of them have a carbon trading scheme. Of those that claim to have a positive green attitude, 53% of their staff felt that being green was only ësometimesí seen as a business issue. 80% of workers felt that their companies still condoned unnecessary business travel, and were unprepared to use video conferencing as an alternative. Over 80% of workers also revealed that they donít have access to car share schemes or public transport incentives.

However, workers themselves are taking responsibility for the environment, with 75% claiming to turn off computers and electrical items, recycle paper and avoid printing where possible.

The office in the future?
The findings indicate the need for both employees and business leaders to start working more closely, as the tug of war between the two continues to affect positive business change. A quarter of top management believes employees are unlikely to affect business change at all, whilst a fifth of employees believe theyíll have as much impact as the management in shaping the future of the workplace.

Getting the balance
Employees are also calling for a more effective work/life balance, with 68 per cent citing this as the top reason for home working. Increased productivity, reduced commuting time and reducing congestion also ranked highly.

Despite this, 75% of UK businesses do not have a proper policy in place. Currently ranked as the biggest benefit in a job, 31 per cent of workers feel working at home ranks high above other benefits, e.g. training in how to maximise technology (just 15 per cent).

There are clear links between home working, the environment and technology, yet these are not understood by the workforce. Only five per cent of people see mobile technology and videoconferencing as an aid to helping them work at home and avoid polluting air travel.

Gary Young, Managing Director of Affiniti, said: Collaborative working will undoubtedly drive the workplace of the future, meaning people can be engaged both socially and professionally from home whilst helping to protect the environment. Organisations and employees alike must understand how communications technology such as wireless working, video conferencing and mobile technology will help drive this revolution.

Organisations are starting to take note of workersí demands for home working and environmental protection and for a third of organisations, setting up a mobile and wireless strategy to enable home working and decrease commuting is a priority.