August 15, 2001—Office jobs have not been replaced by people working from home using high tech equipment, says the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Instead stressed executives use their computers to bring work home at the weekend.
According to research by the TUC, new technology is often used to add work pressure, instead of enabling a work-life balance. TUC deputy general secretary Brendan Barber said: “Employees in the UK already work the longest working hours in Europe. Now they are expected to take work home with them as well, rather than enjoy their weekend in the sun.”
The TUC’s figures show that the pressure to take work home is much less in other European countries. One in five (21%) sometimes take work home in the UK, compared to one in fourteen (7%) on average in the EU.
Barber commented: “It seems the countries known for their high trust relationships at work and good work-life balance are where employers are happy to let staff work from home. We seem to have some of the least trusting bosses in Europe. Of course teleworking does not suit everybody, but I am sure many would like more choice.”
The report also says that while there has been some increase in teleworking in recent years, it has failed to take off in the way that many trend spotters predicted. “Its a big mistake to say that work will change, simply because it can and it looks like an attractive option for at least some employees. Employers have to be prepared to change too, and when UK employers talk about flexibility too often they simply mean their rights to hire and fire,” said Barber.
—Jessica Jarlvi
Reprinted with permission; copyright 2001 i-FM
