
We're talking coming and going 'as you please' - rather than touching your toes...
Published: 17 October 2003 17:37 BST
Technology and human resources are set to come together in a workers' revolution that will send productivity and morale within companies skywards.
The flexibility afforded by technological advancements will mean workers can increase their efficiency while improving the much-vaunted, but barely realised, work-life balance.
Initiatives such as working from home or mobilising the workforce can maximise the potential of otherwise dead time spent commuting. Similarly, it enables staff to build their day around their peaks of activity - especially those working in multi-timezone-dependent businesses, while more efficiently incorporating their life outside of work.
Research from MORI suggests 47 per cent of workers believe technology is poised to free up their time while maintaining their productivity. Only 12 per cent of respondents believed technological improvements will make no difference to their work-life balance.
More than 50 per cent of respondents, said they want to ditch the nine-to-five mentality (or more realistically eight-to-seven) which persists in business and has consistently failed to change with the times.
Frances O'Grady, deputy general secretary of the TUC, said in a statement: "We're all working longer than ever before. But it doesn't have to be this way. The idea that longer hours lead to greater productivity is simply a myth. Achieving a better balance between work and home isn't some lofty ideal we should maybe try to achieve one day, but something we must make a priority. Workers whose employers are forward-thinking enough to allow them to work flexibly will be more content in their jobs, more productive and have happier families."
Which all sounds very nice, but most companies are yet to embrace such models - despite the availability of teleworking solutions and wireless technology. Many simply can't quantify the benefits related to morale and efficiency in the same way they quantify the very real costs of investment in such technologies.
Neil Laver, group marketing manager at Microsoft, who commissioned the survey, said: "UK companies need to change the way in which they manage, motivate and support their information workers, otherwise they're in danger of squandering productivity with a consequent impact on business performance."
Nice idea. But this will never happen. Get used to...
Anonymous
Sales staff maybe, but never in my line of work! T...
Anonymous
The 24/7 lifestyle gives more opportunity for flex...
Jane
I take advantage of flexible working all of the ti...
Anonymous
I take advantage of flexible working all of the ti...
Anonymous
Worcestershire County Council provides an attractive environment where work / life balance for our people is a key priority and where we are keen to ...
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who is currently working in the city and looking for a more life work - life balance! On offer is the ...
Thats why you can expect a wide range of rewards and benefits, including a generous holiday allowance, a season ticket loan, and flexibility that ...
CIO50 2008
The silicon.com CIO50 2008 profiles the most influential and innovative tech chiefs in the UK across all industries and organisation size, from the biggest FTSE100 companies to high growth dot-com start ups and the public sector. The list was voted on by the UK CIO community and a panel of experts. Find out more in our latest special report.
July 10th: Just MASH Marketing: The Customer Reference Mashup
TechNet Webcast: How Microsoft Does IT: Management and Operations in Windows Server...
Mashing it up with Support: Automate, Coordinate and Collaborate with the Incident...
Ensure Virtualization is Meeting Your Needs--Read this New White Paper
Stories from the web...
Copyright ©1995-2008 CNET Networks, Inc. All rights reserved. Top of page
Peter Cochrane Peter Cochrane's Blog: Quality by design Why do picky people settle for poor design at work?
Naked CIO The Naked CIO: Service level disagreements SLAs - not worth the paper they're written on?