UK SMBs are missing out on the benefits of home working because they lack the technology to enable workers to do their jobs remotely, even if their bosses are in favour of it, according to new research from collaboration firm oneDrum.
The study revealed that while 72% of SMBs offer the opportunity to work from home, 61% of employees never do. Accessing documents not available outside the office and not having the necessary technology in place are the most common barriers.
Jasper Westerway, CEO of oneDrum, said: “Many respondents stated that working from home wasn’t an option because they needed access to documents and colleagues. SMBs need to identify solutions that truly meet their needs and budgets, as well as trust both the technology and their employees to treat their data with care and attention.”
Over 80% of respondents said that they felt they could be more productive when working from home, mainly because of fewer distractions. One-third of workers said that they could do all or most of their work from home.
Despite these figures, over half (55%) of employers failed to see that flexible working policies could increase employee productivity.
Employers looking to get the most from their workforce need to consider smarter and more flexible ways of working. There are a number of technologies that support a productive home working environment, the benefits of which result in a more motivated and productive work force, with a healthier work life balance,” said Phil Flaxton, CEO at Work Wise UK.
The survey quizzed 606 employees and 610 employers in November 2009. All the businesses used in the survey had fewer than 250 employees.
