Mobile workers opt for the great outdoors

Staff demanding more flexible and mobile working

Ian Williams, vnunet.com 10 Sep 2007

More than half of Britons would rather work outdoors given the choice, but bosses continue to discourage employees from such flexible working, according to new research from Orange Business Services.

Despite the lacklustre UK summer, 56 per cent of workers would like to spend part of their week working outside, with the park the favoured destination.

The coffee shop was the most popular choice for 26 per cent of the workforce, while a further quarter opted for the tranquillity of a library to complete work tasks.

"We are seeing a shift in people's attitude to the work environment," said Martin Lyne, UK director of small business at Orange Business Services.

"Even after such an awful summer people are still keen to leave the confines of the office and work outdoors, and the ready availability of easy to use mobile technology and wireless hotspots is spurring people's enthusiasm.

"For the younger generation particularly, 'at the office' is a state of mind and there is no reason at all why the rest of the UK workforce cannot be as productive in the park or in the coffee shop as they are when they are at their desk."

But with 39 per cent of employees stating that their companies do not offer flexible working, it seems that employers are reluctant to relinquish control to their staff.

A further 32 per cent said that, even if their company did offer some type of flexible working, it was either discouraged or rendered impractical.

However, it seems that employers may eventually be forced to change their attitude to flexible working.

Of the 56 per cent who wanted to work outside, the largest age group was between 18 and 34, representing those who have grown up with the internet, mobile phones and the emergence of flexible working.

"Young people no longer feel that they have to work in a office and are starting to demand freedom in their working habits which might explain some of the poll findings," said Luke Aikmen, a young entrepreneur and member of the Orange Graduate Panel.

"The younger workforce feels confident to try out different things and experiment with their careers, which can mean starting their own business or working in a contractor on consultant type role, hence expecting or setting their own flexible working conditions.

"In order to attract and keep new talent employers are going to have to look beyond the four walls of an office."

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