Released on: May 28, 2008, 8:38 am

Press Release Author: Remote Employment

Industry: Management

Press Release Summary: Flexible working is here to stay! And it will soon be widely
available to as many as 4.5 million extra parents with teenagers, after Gordon Brown
recently announced his work-life balance agenda.

Press Release Body: Responding to The Chancellor's announcement, Ken Sheridan,
Founder of Remote Employment, a website dedicated to connecting Employers with Job
Seekers who want to work flexibly, remotely or work from home, said: "This move from
the government to support flexible working will be welcomed by millions of parents
across the country! It would be nice to see this type of initiative extended to
other working groups given that companies are realising the far reaching advantages
of flexible working."

Currently only parents of children under six years old have the right to request
flexible working as well as carers of the disabled. The new agenda extends the right
to all those with children up to the age of 16.

Mr Brown said: \"The right to request flexible working has been working for lots of
people over the last few years. It is working for parents of young children and now
it can apply to children under 16 where families need time off to help bring them
up."

Sheridan believes that the structure of the labour market is going to be reshaped
dramatically over the four years, with flexible and remote working expected to
almost double. There are already around 3.5 million people already working from home
in the UK and this was expected to double by 2012. Now an extra 4.5 million workers
will now be able to request better working hours as part of a drive by Gordon Brown
to improve the country\'s work-life balance.

A flexible and remote working plan enables companies to retain valued staff by
offering them choices to suit their lifestyle demands. It also gives employers the
added advantage of recruiting talented individuals from anywhere in the country
instead of just around their local office. The change would come into effect next
April and will affect all businesses from multinationals to small shops. It may be a
cultural shift for many organisations, so Sheridan suggests setting out a flexible
working plan.

How to implement a flexible working plan
1. Establish the business case and the objectives of introducing such a scheme.
Consider how increased flexibility could enhance working practises across the
company.
2. Ascertain goals and the action expected to reach those targets. Determine the
issues that flexible working needs to address.
3. Communicate the concept to staff at an early stage to realise the positive impact
on the business. Survey all employees to find what they would appreciate and value.
Ensure this works both for the individual and the business. Personal flexibility
will build a strong and loyal workforce.
4. Consult with HR specialists to prepare relevant documents such as a 'Home Office
Health and Safety Checklist' to ensure you become a responsible employer of choice.
5. Talk to managers to analyse what jobs can be flexible within the organisation.
Clear rules from the outset will avoid future confusion. Employees with flexible
working not only need to be managed, but evaluated and rewarded with career
development.
6. Prepare a budget for equipment for remote and home workers if necessary. Decide
on the technology that will be required and how to secure data. If necessary,
consult with IT solutions providers.
7. Set up an activity programme for remote workers to keep staff involved with team
meetings, virtual conferences and home assessments. Keeping remote or home workers
'visible' with support and resources will reduce absenteeism and improve
productivity.
8. Review the plan to monitor the effectiveness and productivity of flexible
working. Once a flexible plan is in action it cannot be put to one side, it will
constantly evolve and grow with the company.

Sheridan and business partner Paula Wynne, both parents of teenage sons, started
Remote Employment to fill the gap in the job market by offering a connection to
employers and job seekers who want to work flexibly, remotely or work from home.

They believe that the government's new flexible working agenda, alongside home based
business opportunities, which is being driven by the huge advances in technology, is
the way forward for the majority of parents. It provides them with more control over
how they do their work, increases job satisfaction and work production, and an all
round improvement in work-life balance.

For more information on Remote Employment\'s modern recruitment solutions, contact
Ken Sheridan on 0844 800 8355 or ken@remoteemployment.com.






Web Site: http://www.remoteemployment.com

Contact Details: For more information on Remote Employment, please contact Paula on
0844 800 8355 or paula@remoteemployment.com.