More Support For Work Wise
The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) is the latest supporter of Work Wise UK, the major five-year initiative that aims to bring about a fundamental change in working practices in the UK.
IOSH has joined the TUC, CBI and British Chambers of Commerce in encouraging a ‘workstyle revolution’ through the widespread adoption of new smarter working practices, such as flexible working, including compressed hours and nine-day fortnights, remote and mobile working, and working from home.
IOSH, Europe’s largest professional body for occupational safety and health, is supporting Work Wise UK because of the occupational health benefits of the widespread adoption of these new smarter working practices.
Lisa Fowlie, IOSH president, said: “It is widely accepted that flexible working can help employees achieve a proper work-life balance. A feeling of lack of control over workloads and pressure to work 24/7 may lead to stress. Many people have to work overtime or commute long distances, which adds hours to their working day. Enabling employees to achieve a proper work-life balance will help to reduce ill health absence.
IOSH believes wider adoption of flexible working practices will improve business productivity and profitability and help to improve the environment by reducing transport congestion and pollution. An important bonus is that it helps employees cope with their family commitments. A recent survey found that more than a quarter of employees had missed family and social occasions for work and one in five had cancelled or cut short holidays for work.
Work Wise UK is a five-year initiative to promote the wider adoption of smarter working practices such as flexible working (including condensed hours and nine-day fortnights), mobile and remote working, and working from home. It is backed by the TUC, CBI, British Chambers of Commerce, BT, Transport for London, Equal Opportunities Commission, RAC Foundation, Association of Commuter Transport, SCOPE, Henley Management College and Technology Means Business.
