Home working changes face of British office

Sep 4 2008 by Andrew Mernin, The Journal

OFFICE towerblocks will disappear from city skylines as the traditional nine-to-five grind dies out, researchers have claimed.

Mobile technology and flexible working hours are having a dramatic impact on urban Britain’s landscape, scientists at Microsoft Windows Mobile said.

With 70% of workers claiming they were more able to maintain a good work-life balance, it was predicted city skylines would lower as more employees worked at home.

More cities would become pedestrianised as a result of a predicted plunge in commuters, with 18% believing head offices were becoming redundant and 44% saying they were increasingly allowed to work from home.

“The UK is set to change dramatically over the next 25 years as remote working evolves and employers and employees alike embrace the changes to come,” said James McCarthy, one of the researchers at Microsoft.

“The UK’s landscape is being significantly redrawn to accommodate for more mobile working.

“Old-fashioned spaces will be replaced with green wi-fi spots, and new multi-purpose spaces will be erected which will combine apartments, offices, shops and cafes, making our cities a much more inspiring landscape to work in.”

According to a labour market outlook, by KPMG and the Chartered Institute of Personal Development, organisations in London are the most likely to offer employees arrangements for home working.

Research revealed 13% of Londoners already spend two days a week working away from the office.

Timo Veikkola, a director at The Future Laboratory which assisted with research, added: “The UK is one of Europe’s leading providers of flexible working capability, with 22% of businesses making it possible for their employees to work flexibly. It is estimated that more then 57% of UK employees now work flexible hours and locations.

“Government figures show that three million people work from home – equivalent to 12% of the UK’s workforce – with more and more companies actively encouraging home working amongst their staff.

“There will also be a great social impact with people spending less time socialising in the evening and more time out and about during the day as work/life continues to cross over.

“There will also be less congestion on the roads at peak times as people have the freedom to choose the hours they commute.”

The researchers forecast an increasing demand for wireless internet technology – at home, hotels, parks, rail stations and airports – to accommodate the appetite for greater flexibility among Britain’s workforce.

While the number of offices throughout London will decrease, researchers said Canary Wharf would increase in dominance as the “working office doesn’t become obsolete but more concentrated”.

Mancunians were high users of email for remote working, with 76% benefiting from mobile technology, while 79% of Newcastle residents favour an adaptable approach to work.

Office blocks are likely to become multi-use in future, with more roof gardens and exhibition spaces, it was suggested.

More than 15% of workers claimed flexible working allowed them to be more creative, and with more inspiring spaces, employees were more motivated.