December 01, 2006 - WORKPLACE REVOLUTION IS THE SOLUTION
“One of the solutions for the issues raised by the Eddington Report, and the Stern Report, is staring us all in the face.”
The Eddington Report has not taken into consideration one of the most obvious solutions to the problem of transport capacity and congestion, and it is a solution which is both achievable and realistic.
Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, explained: “Changing work practices and encouraging smarter working, such as flexible working, mobile working, remote working and home working, will significantly reduce the need to travel.
“Working 9 to 5, five days a week, at a central location, coupled with the desire to travel many many miles in order to attend meetings, are working practices which are actually largely unnecessary considering the technology available today.
“This rigid work structure, which is largely dictated by culture and nothing else, is wasteful in terms of time and resources, damaging in terms of the environmental impact, harmful in that it impacts upon stress levels and health.”
Work Wise UK, which has broad backing from business and the unions, supported by the TUC, CBI, BT, the RAC Foundation 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.
“Smarter working is a win-win situation,” added Phil Flaxton. “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.
“Add to that the environmental impact of reduced travel, one of the solutions for the issues raised by the Eddington Report, and the Stern Report, is staring us all in the face.”
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Notes to editors:
- A number of spokespersons are available for interview and comment. Please contact the media team below.
- Work Wise UK is being organised by the IT Forum Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation.
- A number of cartoons are also available: please go to the here to download in print quality, or contact the press office below.
- Further information about Work Wise UK can be found on the website www.workwiseuk.org.
- A dedicated electronic news room has been established for journalists to obtain further information, to download print-quality materials, and to register for media updates about Work Wise UK. This can be accessed either through the main website or directly at www.pressrooms.net/workwiseuk.
- Supporters of the Work Wise UK campaign include the CBI, TUC, the British Chambers of Commerce, BT, Scope, the RAC Foundation, Technology Means Business and Henley Management College.
For further information about the national Work Wise campaign, please contact:
Michael Hardware, Chelgate PR, on 020 7939 7939, 07775 925 274 or meh@chelgate.com.
For information about Work Wise North East, please contact:
Roy Turner, Chelgate PR, on 020 7939 7939, 07970 522232 or rt@chelgate.com