November 15, 2019

Guest blog for Commute Smart Day: We should end winter commuting misery - By Frances O'Grady - General Secretary of the TUC

November 15, 2019/ Frances O'Grady

Home working, flexible hours and better transport infrastructure could all help to ease our commuting woes.

As autumn shades into winter and the nights become nippy, the thought of going to work becomes a real drag. Whether you are stuck in a traffic jam, freezing at the bus stop or crammed into a train or tube, this is the time of year when commuting becomes a thoroughly boring chore. Many of us will be leaving home in darkness and returning from work in the dark. Things are worse still when we have to battle rain, snow or perhaps even floods like those drenching parts of South Yorkshire. Why on earth do we still have to suffer this winter commuting misery?

Commuting is taking up more of our time

And it’s getting worse. Commuting times are steadily creeping up year on year. New TUC research shows that the average employee now takes nearly an hour a day (58.8 minutes) just getting to work and back. This has increased by 5.4 minutes since 2008. This adds up to an extra 20 hours each year, so it’s no wonder we’re getting fed up with the drudgery of commuting.

November 14, 2019

Guest blog: How to tackle the effects of winter weather on your commute - By Chris Smith - Head Writer at Spend It Like Beckham

November 14, 2019/ Phil Flaxton

Whether you are a driver, a public transport user or you prefer to walk/cycle - commuting in the winter months is a nightmare. Between iced over cars, dangerous black ice or cancelled trains, there several things that can interrupt your commute but worry no more this guide will help you tackle the effects of winter weather on your commute.

Public Transport

Train

There is no denying that those of us who commute by public transport are some of the worst affected and with cold winter weather forecasted for the coming months, it is important that rail and bus commuters are prepared.

If you are a train commuter, then you likely already know that trains are not always reliable and, unfortunately, winter weather only makes this worse. However, as inconvenient as this is for workers, travelling by train in winter weather can be highly dangerous.

To combat the effects of winter weather on your train commute, there are a few things you can do:

· Catch an earlier train. This will help as by catching an earlier train you help negate the delays you will face and will (hopefully) arrive at work on time.

· Let your manager know beforehand if you are likely to be affected by forecasted weather. They may allow you to work from home or will, at last, allow for travel delays.

· Keep a hold on receipts. If you are delayed by a certain amount of time or your trains are cancelled, you can claim travel compensation from most rail networks.

· Be patient. Yes, it is frustrating to have train delays or cancellations, but in Winter, this is a safety issue. Try to be patient and polite to rail staff – it isn’t their fault.

May 18, 2019

Guest blog: Remote without the disconnect - By Steve Bryne, CEO, Travel Counsellors.

May 18, 2019/ Steve Bryne

Steve Byrne, CEO at global independent travel company, Travel Counsellors, says self-development doesn’t have to take a back seat when working smarter.

Records show that the number of UK homeworkers has increased by nearly 50% over the last two decades, and out of a UK working population of 32.5m people, four million have decided to take the opportunity to back themselves and run their own business.

With these numbers set to increase, and the next generation of talent around the corner who are well-versed in the benefits of smarter working, I’m reminded of Microsoft Corporation founder Bill Gates’ view: "As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others."

Empowering people to work smarter requires a tangible level of trust. It requires trust between the company, as the enabler, and their employees, or in Travel Counsellors case, over 1800 franchise owners across the globe who run their own corporate and leisure travel businesses from home.

Nurturing trusted relationships between employer and employee must go hand-in-hand with creating a strong sense of community across an organisation - a community of people that supports and champions each other to achieve their personal and professional goals, backed by a technology platform that ensures that they feel constantly engaged and digitally connected. The result, in Travel Counsellors case, is a global group of hundreds of professionals, sharing knowledge, support and expertise to provide their customers with the best travel experiences possible. Afterall, you are only ever one Skype call away from a helping hand.

Being trusted to do your job to the very best of your ability is an incredibly powerful tool. Not only for the good of individual and collective business growth, but for the betterment of a person’s self-belief and self-development, both in and out of the workplace. To quote the American educator Booker T. Washington, “Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him.”

May 18, 2019

Guest blog: Developing online communities in the workplace - By Katie Joyce, Senior Lecturer in Organisation Studies at Bristol Business School, University of the West of England

May 18, 2019/ Katie Joyce

In this guest blog, I reflect back on my recent research findings into the emerging field of ‘Virtual Coaching’.[1] I share some thoughts and ask questions in the hope of stimulating ideas around the development of online communities in the workplace.

Love it or hate it, technology is changing how we communicate with each other. Internet based communicative platforms have become increasingly central to both our social and professional lives. How many times has a form of ‘virtual’ communication* you’ve engaged with had a direct impact on your thoughts for that day? Executed successfully, positive interactions via, for example, email/text/tweet/blog may put a spring in your step for the rest of your day; but handled poorly, a brief exchange of words, displayed only as text on a screen, may leave you feeling confused, dejected and possibly isolated.

A meme on Twitter caught my attention, it claimed: “Culture cannot be changed through emails and memos, only through relationships, one conversation at a time.” [2] Indeed, I consider this sentiment to carry great importance and absolutely believe human contact and connection is a priority and something we should never lose sight of. A lively debate certainly exists in the field of ‘Computer Mediated Communication’ as to whether remote technology acts as a barrier to effective human communication.[3] Some authors consider it a cold and impersonal medium and claim emotions are difficult to express.[4] Concerns largely stem from the absence of emotional embodiment and one’s verbal and visual cues when using non face-to-face communication methods. However, other studies have found any such barriers dissolve over time and claim emotional communication online and offline to be surprisingly similar.[5]

Research I completed in the field of ‘Virtual Coaching’ practice, provides empirical evidence supporting this latter view. I developed an online blog community for newly qualified clinicians in the NHS, featuring the presence of a ‘virtual coach’. As a coach myself, I was keen to explore if a remote coaching intervention could help to develop early career potential. This is typically a time of intense transition and often results in significant performativity pressures for employees. I opted for blogs as my communication medium because they are said to: “Offer an intriguing platform for personal communication, reflection and expression, creating space for emotional and informational release.”[6] Participants blogged on a diverse selection of professional development topics linked to their early career transition experiences.

May 17, 2019

Guest blog: Working from home has increased, but why so slow? - By Frances O'Grady - General Secretary of the TUC

May 17, 2019/ Frances O'Grady

New TUC research to mark Work Wise UK’s National Work from Home Day shows employee homeworking has increased during the past decade. But we are still a long way from fulfilling the promise of positive flexible working.

There are 373 thousand more employees working from home than 10 years ago, a 27% increase.

But not enough bosses are giving their workers the option of homeworking – even though it could help people to see more of their family and improve their work-life balance.

Work practices are often stuck in the past

We have the best educated population that we have ever seen. They are particularly adept at using computers and mobiles. Most younger people starting work have been used to independent study and working to deadlines.

Yet far too many employers still rely on a factory-style model, managing by attendance, even when it’s a poor fit.

They are missing a trick. We estimate that 4 million more people want to work from home at least some of the time but aren’t given the chance.

Lack of sufficient trust in employees is bound to have a negative impact on motivation and morale.

This bites even more when the jobs market is tight. With employment rates at record levels employers need to focus on attracting and keeping good people. Offering well-organised homeworking for those who want it would help many employers as well as staff.

What is holding back homeworking?

In many cases its simply outmoded managerial attitudes.

The General Data Protection Regulation is also sometimes cited by employers, but this can be easily dealt with by taking simple common-sense measures.

There are some other constraints that are the responsibility of government.

Lack of access to fast and reliable broadband is still a problem in parts of the UK

The decline of home ownership – down by more than a million since the crash – is also a factor. People who own their property are 73% more likely to work from home than renters.

May 11, 2020

Guest blog: Introducing the virtual model workplace - By Susan Clews - Chief Executive - Acas

In any other time, we might celebrate the fact that homeworking is on the rise. New figures from the ONS show that 49.2% of employees are now working from home (up from 45.8% in just one week). But the definition of flexible working is about employees having a choice about where and when they work. Enforced homeworking, as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown, doesn’t seem to quite fit this bill.

Homeworking in the current environment

What else do we know about homeworking in the lockdown? Well we know that:

· many employees feel that as soon as work returns to anything approaching business as usual, employers will row back on homeworking, whatever the perceived benefits

· homeworking is a privilege, of sorts, only afforded to professional occupations, with lower-paid workers in precarious work less able to work from home

· working from home is more widespread in some sectors than others. A new YouGov poll for Acas shows that it’s easier for those in IT/ telecoms (90% work from home all or most of the time due to Coronavirus) and finance/accounting (84%), but not so easy for those in retail (22%) and hospitality/leisure (26%)

· homeworking is double-edged, bringing both rewards, with a sense of empowerment for some, as well as no dreaded commuting; and difficulties – in an IES survey, over half of respondents reported new pains, especially in the neck, shoulders and back; and the Acas survey reported workers missing informal/social interaction (71%) and feeling ‘out of the loop’ (51%).

May 10, 2020

Guest blog: How is COVID-19 effecting businesses and ways of working ? - By Chris Smith - Head Writer at Spend It Like Beckham

All around the world businesses are in a state of crisis. The outbreak of Covid-19 has brought many businesses, big and small, to their knees all around the world. The UK has been in almost total lockdown since mid-March, but what has this meant for the UK’s businesses?

In this article, we’re going to look at some of the most notable ways that Covid-19 has had an impact on businesses, how they are coping and what the future of work in the UK may look like once this is all over.

How Are Businesses Being Affected?

Coronavirus has impacted UK businesses in many different ways. As of April 18th, the Government issued advice that all businesses and employees that could work from home, should be. This took a toll on the UK's workforce, with employees across the country, in every sector, being affected.

Thousands were now expected to work from home; others were put on Government-backed furlough and, unfortunately, many more were let go.

Businesses have been subject to serious loss of cash flow and custom, while some are thriving, deepening on the industry.

So, let’s break down some of the effects this is having.

November 16, 2018

Guest blog: Why you should get involved with Road Safety Week - By Sam Nahk, Senior Public Affairs Officer, Brake

It’s almost that time of year again… The UK’s biggest road safety event, Road Safety Week, will run from 19–25 November, and we will be encouraging everyone to shout about the safety of those on two wheels and sharing how we can all be ‘Bike Smart’.

Cyclists and motorcyclists are among the most vulnerable of all road users; in the UK, more than a third of all people killed or seriously injured on our roads were travelling by bike. However, every single one of these crashes could have been prevented with the right policies, infrastructure and behaviours in place. That’s why this Road Safety Week we are going to do something about it.

Every single one of us has a role to play in being Bike Smart. Whether you’re a policy maker deciding on the rollout of safer speed limits, a driver committing to be alert and give bike riders plenty of space, or a cyclist/motorcyclist yourself, using safe riding behaviours and with appropriate training and equipment.

Throughout Road Safety Week we will be focusing on several key topics, where evidence indicates that significant improvements can be made to protect the safety of cyclists and motorcyclists – a crucial one of these is rural road safety. A shocking two-thirds of all deaths involving a cyclist or motorcyclist take place on a rural road and the cause can often be attributed to speed. We believe that the current 60mph default limit is far too high for many of these roads and is a key factor in their increased risk – rest assured we will be making this point loud and clear.

November 13, 2018

Guest blog: Beating the commuter blues - By Frances O'Grady - General Secretary of the TUC

As November bites, many of us will be commuting in the cold and the dark.

Most weather forecasters are predicting a very cold winter, which is certainly a chilling thought. You don’t have to live in Scotland, where the first snow fell back in 20 September, in order to suffer a case of the commuting blues.

Commute Smart Week, which is organised by Work Wise UK, is a great opportunity to talk about how we can make travelling to work take less time – or even eliminate the journey altogether

Commuting is taking too much of our time

New TUC research published today shows that commuting is taking up more and more of our time.

Ten years ago, the average commuter spent about 200 hours a year getting to work and back – the equivalent of five week’s work. Since then, the average commute has increased by 18 hours a year.

Longer commutes often feel like wasted time and the experience can be frustrating and unpleasant. With more commuters travelling for longer, we all too often find ourselves sitting in a traffic jam or squeezed into packed public transport.

BME workers have the most time-consuming commutes

Our research shows that the average employee from a black or ethnic minority background spends an hour and 9 minutes each day commuting – or 12 minutes more than their white counterparts. BME workers are also more likely to live in urban areas, have lower average pay and are more likely to travel by bus, which is a relatively slow way of getting to work

November 11, 2018

Chairman's blog: Brexit and the future of work - Don't panic!! - By David Lennan - Chairman - Work Wise UK

Commute Smart week is with us again and what a year it’s been, disruption in many sectors, trade wars, confusion and misinformation all adding to worry and fear as new events and emotions impact on us daily. Have we really got that much to worry about and fear? I don’t think so. No matter what the headlines and pundits say, or whatever discomforts or displeasures we may suffer or witness in our workplaces, the world of work changes relatively slowly. This is not because we are slow learners or developers, but in reality we really don’t like change and most people would rather rake over the past rather than think positively about creating the future. We can’t put the clocks back, well only by an hour at this time of year and even that is a point of controversy and indecision.

And so it is today, when we still can’t make our minds up about “ In or Out” whether we want to be Global or European, Adventurers or Followers, Entrepreneurial or Steered along, supported by Common or Civil Law and these are just some questions that we should have answers to by now, or at least our Leaders should!

Around this time last year The Government set Sir Charlie Mayfield the task of finding “The Missing Billions” £130bn to be more precise, which was said to be lost to the British economy through poor productivity. Well, here we are now in full flow and ebb on occasions, towards Brexitgate, the Missing millions team don’t seem to have found the answers, or at least they haven’t told us yet.

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