BOSSES ARE URGED TO SAMPLE SMARTER WORKING DURING WORK WISE WEEK
Work Wise North East campaigners are calling on regional employers to work smarter in the run up to national Work Wise Week which takes place from 15th to 21st May 2008.
Campaigners will be spelling out the benefits of smarter working to employers and employees across the North East in a bid to encourage greater take up of revolutionary working practices.
The week is an opportunity to learn more about smarter working and useful guides and on-line material will be available for employers wishing to take the first steps to new ways of working.
The week commences with National Work from Home Day and organisations are being urged to take part in home working trials to see how their organisations can benefit form home working.
During the week both employers and employees are being invited to consider smarter working practices, such as home, flexible, mobile and remote working so they can fully understand the benefits and practicalities of this modern day approach to working.
Simon Roberson, chairman of Work Wise North East said:
"The age of working 9 to 5, five days a week, from a central location, is for many, fast coming to an end.
"This rigid work structure, which is largely dictated by culture and nothing else, is wasteful in terms of time and resources, damaging to the environment, and harmful in that it impacts upon stress levels and the health of employees.
"Many employers are already ahead of the game and are working smarter but during Work Wise Week we will be urging all organisations across the North East to take up the Work Wise mantle.
"Smarter working will revolutionise the way people work and will increase business productivity and competitiveness. It will also reduce transport congestion and pollution, improve health, and assist disadvantaged groups.
"Wide adoption of smarter working practices is the obvious answer in tackling some of the issues that face our society today. The introduction of new information and communications technologies can enable organisations to introduce greater flexibility into working practices - enabling people to work virtually anywhere and many smarter working practices are very simple to implement.
We are encouraging regional employers to try some of these activities during Work Wise Week.
Allow staff to start an hour later or an hour earlier, with a reciprocal hour shift at the end of the day. This would enable staff to avoid the busiest travel times, effectively staggering the rush hour and making the journey far more tolerable for everyone.
Encourage staff to take a half hour lunch break each day, and then let them leave at 3.00pm on the last day.
Allow staff to work from home on Thursday May 15th, National Work from Home Day. Even a small reduction in the number of people travelling on the roads or by public transport on that day will have a significant effect on congestion and overcrowding.
During Work Wise Week, ask staff to cancel all external face-to-face staff meetings, and instead hold them by conference call, either video or telephone. This would save time and resources, and reduce congestion and pollution.
Where appropriate, allow staff to roster their own shifts during the week.
Work Wise Week is being staged by Work Wise UK, a major five-year not-for-profit initiative.
The North East was the first region to adopt the flagship campaign which celebrated it first anniversary in March..
The campaign is going from strength to strength with more and more supporters signing up to smarter working practices including the TUC, North East Chamber of Commerce, Northumberland County Council, Onyx Group, Dickinson Dees, EEF and many others. The campaign has attracted wide-ranging support from leading organisations in the region (see editors note below).
Further information about Work Wise UK, and how organisations can participate in Work Wise Week, can be found on the website (www.workwiseuk.org).
ENDS
For further information, please contact: Sheila Chapman PR on 07732 827 486 scpr@btopenworld.com
Notes to editors:
A number of spokespersons are available for interview
Further information about Work Wise UK, useful guides and material can be found on the website www.workwiseuk.org.
Supporters of the Work Wise UK North East campaign include the TUC, NECC, EEF Northern, Dickinson Dees, Onyx Group, the Workplace Travel Plan Company, Government Office North East, One NorthEast, BT, Nexus, Association of North East Councils and Equality North East.
Work Wise Week Programme
Thursday May 15th - National Work from Home Day
Friday May 16th - Environmental Benefits
Saturday May 17 & Sunday May 18 - Work Wise Weekend
Monday May 19th - The Impact on Transport
Tuesday May 20th - Employee Benefits & Social Impacts
Wednesday 21st May - Impact on Business & Productivity