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Flexible working offers wealth of options
Monday May 12th 2008. Posted: 08:00
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Flexible working means choosing individual solutions
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Work Wise Week - organised by Work Wise UK, a BT-supported, not-for-profit initiative seeking to promote smarter working practices - is set to be launched this year on 15 May.
A number of activities are planned, offering companies and individuals guidance on the benefits of smarter working. The launch event will be National Working from Home Day - although, as Caroline Waters points out, BT has recognised that opportunities for flexible working go much further than merely doing your job at home. “That definition of flexible working makes it far too exclusive for millions of workers and thousands of businesses,” said Caroline, BT director of people and policy. “Work is not somewhere you go, it's something you do. Smarter working covers how, where and when work is done, how and when to travel to work, and the time spent working. It also comes in various forms - including flexible and mobile working, working from home and working remotely.” You can’t prescribe flexibility, Caroline added. “Certainly in BT, we believe sensible flexible working means choosing individual solutions that are right for BT people, their customers and colleagues,” she said. “As a result, 70 per cent of BT people are readily doing their job under all kinds of different flexible arrangements - and BT is recognised internationally as a pioneer of innovative flexible working solutions.” Caroline said the company’s own flexible working policies have resulted in a 31 per cent increase in productivity - with annual savings of £69 million from reduced accommodation and overhead costs. “Equally importantly, they help BT people achieve a better work-life balance in terms of working smarter and living better,” she said. But while BT defines flexible working as much wider than merely working from home, it is nevertheless a strong supporter of Work Wise’s aims to promote the wider adoption of smarter working practices. It was the first corporate body to become a Work Wise UK strategic partner - and will be among the companies attending the Work Wise Summit in London on Wednesday 21 May. This summit will address many of the elements of smarter working through a series of keynote speeches and panel discussions - with the emphasis on increasing UK competitiveness in the face of Asia’s growing economies. Other themed days and events during Work Wise Week include a focus on Friday (16 May) on the positive impact smarter working can have on the environment; while Work Wise Weekend - on 17 and 18 May - aims to provide guidance and help to people who would like to work smarter. Monday 19 May will look at the transport impacts - and Tuesday 20 May will focus on employee benefits and the social impacts brought about by smarter working. Caroline added: “Here in BT, we believe the innovative measures and flexible working solutions we offer our people address most, if not all, of these issues. Why? Because that’s what people tell us.” Ann Williams Ann Williams is one whose life has been radically helped by BT’s family-friendly policies. A partner manager in BT Retail, Ann has been the sole carer for five years of her widowed father, who has Parkinson’s disease. Her caring responsibilities have increased since her partner suffered a heart attack in November. Ann works flexibly from home - which she says has made a real difference to her role as a carer. “It means I can care for my father and do my job at the same time, working around both commitments,” she said. “And, while my partner is recovering from his illness, my flexible working arrangements are more important than ever.” Sandra Done Sandra Done also appreciates the freedom of flexible working. A member of the BT Retail directories data processing team, she chose to continue working after turning 60. Sandra works flexibly through banked time - working a set number of hours each month but at times of her choosing. This flexibility enables her to undertake community work in schools with the BT Volunteers. She said. “I needed time off from my duties to train for this role and was supported by my manager throughout.” Chris Ainslie Chris Ainslie - managing director of global partners in BT Global Services - sees flexible working as a way of life. “I fit five days’ work into four days - which I find makes me much more motivated, efficient and self disciplined in my work, as well as giving me more time to spend with my family,” he said. “I prioritise and delegate more - which in turn instils a sense of empowerment and responsibility in my team.”
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Last updated:
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