Thinking of starting to work from home?
You're not the only one.
According to a recent TUC analysis, there are 374,000 more employees working from home today than there was 10 years ago. The report shows a 27.7% increase in the number of people working from their own home office over the last decade.
While that number obviously shows a significant trend towards the home working opportunity, it's clear that there still aren't enough managers giving their employees the opportunity to work from home.
The Insights from the TUC
Today, we're beginning to learn that remote working can lead to more productive workers, less stress, and greater job satisfaction. However, while the numbers of remote workers are growing, there are about 4 million employees out there who are still struggling to find an opportunity to work from home.
The latest report from the TUC revealed many interesting things about the state of the market. For instance, people who own their property are 73% more likely to work from home than people who rent. Additionally, only 3.4% of 20-29 year olds work from home, compared to 7.4% of 40-59-year-olds. Even your gender could affect your chances of a more flexible career. The TUC found that there are twice as many men working from home than women. However, the number of female home workers has grown by 36% over the last decade.
Usually, people who work from home have high-ranking jobs. For instance, 11.9% of people working from home were managers in their company. What's more, homeworking is an excellent opportunity for people with disabilities. 230,000 disabled individuals currently work from home.
In terms of location, the South West appears to be the most forward-thinking area in the UK, with 1 in 12 workers based at home. Northern Ireland falls way behind with only 1 in 32 employees pursuing home-working careers.
Time to Give Home Working a Chance?
The TUC believes that today's employees should be giving their workers more opportunities to work remotely from day one. According to the General Secretary of the TUC, Frances O'Grady, it's a win-win opportunity. While workers get more time with families, employers can improve their productivity levels and benefit from more dedicated, experienced staff.
Unfortunately, a lot of employers are still clinging to the old ways of employment. However, Phil Flaxton, Chief Executive of Work Wise UK, believes that Unions might be able to help, by negotiating flexible working policies that work for everyone. Additionally, it's safe to say that attitudes are beginning to change towards home working too. Technology has made it easier for people to embrace a better work/life balance with home working solutions. Increasing mobility is increasing the acceptance of something beyond a 9-to-5 work routine.
