BT Backs Drive For A Smarter Working Britain

BT announced its support for Work Wise UK this week, becoming the first company to back the new initiative.

Work Wise is a new three-year initiative set up by IT Forum Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, which aims to encourage the widespread adoption of smarter working practices, such as flexible, mobile , remote and home working

Work Wise UK will provide a central information service offering help and advice to businesses and employees on how best to drive productivity while safeguarding a healthy work-life balance. The initiative will start with Work Wise Week, which will run from 3-9 May 2006. Activities planned include a London summit involving representatives from government, the unions and UK businesses who will debate the issues around delivering a smarter working Britain.

BT, which is the first corporate to back Work Wise UK, already has a strong track record in this area, with more than 11,500 of its employees working from home on a permanent or semi-permanent basis and 64,000 more equipped to work flexibly. BT estimates that such practices have resulted in significant cost savings including increased employee retention and improved absenteeism rates.

Caroline Waters, dir ector, people and policy, BT, said: " As a leader of flexible working in the UK, we are delighted to be supporting this important new initiative.

"Where, when and how we work is changing and today's businesses are more efficient and more flexible as a result of the networked world in which we operate. However, while the benefits of adopting flexible working practices are clear in terms of increased productivity and employee satisfaction, the challenge for management is to ensure that it is equipped to c ope with a digitally enabled workforce.

"BT looks forward to taking part in Work Wise Week and would encourage employers across the UK to try out new flexible working practices and experience the business benefits of working smarter."

Research by BT, conducted among large enterprises in autumn 2005, revealed a growing corporate thirst for mobile devices with large businesses striving to enable flexible working and increase staff productivity . The study also highlighted a "laissez faire" approach, with some companies failing to provide employees with the right training to ensure that executives benefit from this investment. BT warned that without proper guidance, companies could not guarantee increased staff satisfaction and ran the risk that employees might even work longer hours.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive of IT Forum Foundation, said: "It is innovative companies such as BT which are leading by example in the introduction of smarter working practices. Recent technology advances have played a huge part in facilitating the wider adoption of smarter working and BT is at the forefront of these technologies both as a telecoms provider and as an employer. We are delighted to have them on board."

Work Wise UK aims to increase the number of people benefiting from smarter working from 3.1 million to 14 million within three years.

Work Wise Website

Source: Work Wise UK news release.

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