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For
employees there is always the question of "Whose
flexibility?"
On the one hand, there is
considerable pressure from below by employees to achieve more
flexibility, usually so as to be able to manage other demands in
life and to put them more in control of their working day.
On the other hand, an organisation's approach to flexible work
may make the organisation more flexible (e.g. to hire and fire, to reallocate
hours of work, etc) while leaving employees with no appreciable
improvement in their working conditions.
The best flexible work solutions
bring both business benefits and improvements to working
conditions for staff.
The following links explore the
important issues for employees who seek - or perhaps fear -
flexible work:
Legal
balancing act for work-life balance
With the new "right to request flexible work", it's not only
time for balance, but maybe a time to walk the legal tightrope
too. What exactly are an individual's rights? What are an
employer's responsibilities? What other legislation also
applies? Time to call for professional advice.
Telework at Nortel Networks
We present a case study - both corporate and personal - of
teleworking at a company that has some 12, 000 teleworkers.
So if you're thinking about
remote working, take a look at this and see how it's done properly.
Work-life
balance - reality and lip -service
Are Britain's companies
serious about work-life balance? Two recent surveys provide
insight into progress so far.
Fun in the office
The recruitment firm Office Angels recently surveyed 1500 workers
and employers to find out what would make offices better to work
in. Football, pets and more natural air and light featured in the
list.
Flexible working - law and
practice
We review a well researched and detailed book examining the
practical and legal issues that surround flexible work. This
will help you understand the varieties of flexible work, your
rights, and may help you to build a case if your manager needs
persuading.
Part-time
work: who wants it?
We take a look at
European-wide figures, to see who's working part-time and who would
like to. It seems more people want to work part-time than actually
do, and that everyone wants to reduce their working hours.
Union
guides to flexible working
We take a look at a couple of guides from IPMS, the union for managers,
professionals and specialists, which take a comprehensive approach to
flexible working.
Teleworking
in the sun
Sun, sea, sand - and keeping in touch with your work and the world at large.
The Crete Telework Network allows you to have it all!
Turn it
off!
Or you may need a complete escape from the 24x7 world of work. US telework
prophet Gil Gordon urges you to do so
Bosses
go home - can we come too?
Many managers see working from home as being necessary and acceptable for
themselves - but are reluctant to authorise others to do so...
Working
anywhere
The DTI has updated its guide to working anywhere - god introductory advice
here. Nice pictures, too.
Travel
Plans and ICT
Employee involvement is central to company "Travel Plans" which
aim to reduce business travel and car commuting. Find out how flexible work
and technology come into the equation.
Social
Responsibility in the Information Age
We review a research report which raises issues to do with workplace
responsibility and the new electronic tools we use - workload, privacy,
surveillance, training, intrusion into home life....
Employability
and access to Opportunity
A Flexibility briefing paper on how new ways of working can
enable work work to be distributed more fairly and help people back into work
Information
overload
Does the Information Age mean we have to be doomed to sink in an
overwhelming tide of information? What are the ways to
cope?
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