Coronavirus: Keep calm and carry on…home working
As the UK grapples with the global spread of Coronavirus, award-winning flexible recruitment specialists 9-2-3 Jobs are urging employers to embrace home working, keep their staff safe, and reap the business benefits that flexible working brings.
9-2-3 helps businesses, from start-ups to large corporates, to introduce flexible working patterns - including remote working. The benefits of flexible working include:
· Higher levels of staff engagement, motivation and morale which will boost staff retention.
· Greater staff productivity when working from home.
· Reduced sickness absence.
· Reduced office costs.
· Reduced commuting time, and associated travel costs.
· Easing traffic congestion has a positive impact on our carbon footprint.
Helen Wright, 9-2-3 Jobs Founder and Director, believes now is the perfect time for employers to give home working a go:
“Life – and business – is unpredictable. Whether it’s a health emergency, extreme weather conditions, or tough economic times, businesses can rise to the challenge – and keep their staff safe - if they’re agile.
“So, if you have the technology to support remote working – such as laptops, remote email access, a smart phone - why not trial it now? Put in place a date to review how it’s working and to address any teething problems. There’s no doubt that we’re currently facing a unique challenge, but it’s also an opportunity to make lasting, positive changes to the way we work.”
According to the Government’s Coronavirus action plan, released earlier this week, a fifth of the UK’s workforce could be off sick at one time, and it urges companies to enact ‘business continuity plans’. In addition, a study by the CIPD and People Management found that one third of employers don’t have a plan if an employee tests positive for the virus.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
1. 9-2-3 Jobs Ltd is a recruitment agency that specialises solely on flexible roles for professionals. It was founded by Helen Wright in 2015 and has since become the Cherwell Awards 2019 Small Business of the Year, a National Working Families ‘Best Practice’ Award Finalist 2019, and the Institute of Directors ‘Director of the Year’ Award Finalist 2019. 9-2-3 are also a 2020 Innovation Finalist for the West Oxfordshire Business Awards.
2. A BT study from 2016 reported that 58% of workers would take a pay cut for the ability to work from home.
3. According to a study by the Office of National Statistics, 90% of the UK workforce want remote working.
4. Helen Wright, 9-2-3 Founder and Director was interviewed by Mishal Husain on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Friday 6 March (from 2 hrs 57 onwards) on remote working and the Coronavirus.
For press enquiries contact:
Clare March, 07853 925646 or Clare@923jobs.com OR
Helen Wright, 07789270183 or Helen@923jobs.com