Press Release | Website launched to provide vital teleworking information

The Telework Association is launching its new website www.telework.org.uk to coincide with the start of Work Wise Week. This launch is part of a series of initiatives to help meet the increasing demand for relevant information from the growing number of people interested in teleworking.

Shirley Borrett, Development Director of the Telework Association said, “We have seen an upturn in applications for membership in the last few months and renewed interest in information about home based work. Our new website has lots of useful information for visitors and membership provides additional benefits and connects experienced home workers with those just starting out.

The economic situation means that many organisations are turning to flexible and home based work options to help them survive the recession. There are also many redundant individuals who are turning to self-employed teleworking either as a lifestyle opportunity or as a way to tide them over this difficult period in the labour market.

Concerns about the threat of a swine flu pandemic are also putting the spotlight on teleworking. Some employers might think it a good idea to ask employees returning from high risk areas to stay at home for a while to be sure they are not incubating the virus. Employees may be reluctant to travel in crowded trains and buses, or simply not want to risk physical contact with colleagues who might be unwell. In both cases working from home enables the organisation to continue functioning and the employee to continue earning.

In April the ‘right to request flexible working‘ legislation was extended to parents of children up to 16. This is also increasing the number of people looking for information on teleworking and flexible working.

Other initiatives include a webinar entitled “Flexible Working – Good for Everyone?”, and an online Homeworking Productivity survey.

The Telework Association has been promoting the benefits of teleworking since it was set up in 1993. It believes that homeworking and flexible working are not just ‘family friendly’ but also ‘business friendly’. These latest initiatives reinforce the Association’s reputation as Europe’s foremost authority on teleworking and position it to offer much needed information and expertise in today’s tough economic and business environment.

-ends-

Note to editors:

The Telework Association is the leading European organisation promoting flexible and remote working and providing services to individuals and organisations involved in telework. Founded in 1992, the association provides regular communications to members in the form of a weekly newsletter and a quarterly magazine.

The association has carried out research into various aspects of remote working and is currently investigating the productivity of home working compared with conventional work. As well as carrying out its own research, the association has gathered expertise from other sources and provides information to members both corporate and individual.

As promoters of teleworking the Association is able to provide informed comment on issues such as government policy and business practice in the field of remote working. The association supports teleworking as a solution to business problems, a contribution to environmental goals and a source of improved quality of life.

For further information contact:

Peter Thomson, Director of Research
email
or telephone 01491 628143

Shirley Borrett, Development Director
email
or 07831 307890

Brian Higton, Chairman,
email
  or 01560 323444

More information about the Homeworkers’ Productivity survey or the Business Benefits of Flexible Working webinar, see relevant press releases

For  Work Wise Week information see
www.workwiseuk.org/events/workwiseweek09.html