Work Wise needs investment in IT infrastructure

So says Richard Jackson, UK and Ireland managing director for Citrix, noting that there are significant but doable implications to making the remote working revolution happen. “Top level support for flexible working practices is great to see, and the signing of the [TUC and CBI] concordat should begin a new era of acceptance,” he says. “However, good intentions alone will not revolutionise the work place. “Businesses need to build infrastructures that support people working away from the office. Simply providing remote email access will not bring the productivity gains smarter working promises, and won’t win the support of staff.” Citrix’s systems have been helping British manufacturers with this for many years. Users get secure access to their data and applications wherever they are, while IT management itself is streamline and costs controlled. “People need secure access to their applications and data to be able to do their job, and IT needs to be given the budgets to implement this. Furthermore, employers must start to consider management by objectives, rather than just presence. “It’s a myth that employees who work remotely, sometimes from home, are not as productive as those that are physically back in the office. This concordat should help reinforce this with UK businesses.”