Firms 'missing remote working benefits'
Feb 17 2009
Not enough firms trust their employees to work away from the office, new research shows.
Figures from BT Business find less than one in ten UK companies will allow their staff to work from home, despite two-fifths of employees thinking they would be more productive out of the office.
The research shows that many company bosses have outdated views, such as thinking if people are not at their desks they are not working.
John Wright, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses, says firms' reluctance to allow remote working comes from 'a matter of trust'.
'In the current climate, small firms need to be operating at full stretch. Last week's bad weather demonstrated the need for British businesses to enable their employees to be productive, wherever they are,' he adds.
John Dovey, IT services director at BT Business, states companies which choose to implement flexible working are more likely to attract and retain quality staff.
Work Wise UK, which promotes smarter working, says small firms can save considerable costs if they opt for remote working.
The organisation estimates each desk costs £7,000 per year in property rent, heating, lighting and other overheads.
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