Workplace revolution instigated

Richard Lambert, director general of the CBI, and Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, were the first to sign the ‘concordat’ supporting the development and implementation of the Work Wise UK campaign and objectives. Work Wise UK, a not for profit initiative, is in the first year of a five year programme to promote the wider adoption of smarter working practices, such as flexible working, working from home, mobile and remote working, to bring about a workplace revolution, similar in impact to the Industrial Revolution which Great Britain led in the 19th century. Barber of the TUC, says: “Introducing smarter working practices across UK workplaces would give employees more choice over their hours and working patterns. Greater flexibility that allows people to work from home occasionally could have a major impact on their lives. Less time would be wasted commuting and people would get to see more of their friends and families. It would also help reduce stress levels, allowing staff to be more effective at work and healthier generally.” The benefits of smarter working are enormous: with positive implications on employees’ work-life balance and travelling time, and improvements in productivity which will help the UK meet the competitive challenges presented by the emerging economies, such as India and China. Lambert of the CBI adds: “Many businesses are already reaping rewards from more flexible and smarter ways of working, achieving improved productivity and staff recruitment and retention. Local communities and the environment benefit too. The right balance must, of course, be struck between employees having maximum flexibility and businesses remaining competitive and meeting customers’ needs.” “The success of the British economy depends upon an enterprising industry with a skilled and innovative workforce. Workwise UK provides a unique opportunity for employers and employees to work together to create mutually beneficial ways to work. This should make the British economy more dynamic and efficient so it is fit to thrive and compete internationally:” said David Frost, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce. Apart from its impact on productivity and competitiveness, smarter working is also part of the answer to a number of other key issues currently facing the UK economy. Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, explained: “Smarter working will make a significant contribution to addressing the environmental catastrophe predicted by the Stern Report. Changing working practices through smarter working will reduce the need to travel, thus lowering fossil fuel use and emissions.” The aim is for thousands of other organisations to follow this example and sign the concordat via the Work Wise website (www.workwiseuk.org), demonstrating their commitment to revolutionising the workplace.