Given the recent events in the UK with regards the severe weather, many companies may think more seriously about "enabling" their employees to work from home.

 

News articles have said that many workers who couldn't work from home just 'had the day off'.  This would have cost companies millions in terms of lost productivity and revenue.  The morale of the employees may have improved somewhat but at what cost?

 

More and more companies are looking into the possibilities of home working as a more cost effective alternative to expensive desk space in the office.  Different factors need to be taken into account when calculating the cost of providing office space (in addition to local taxes); for example, a desk, power, heating, lighting, air conditioning, printing, toilet facilities, catering facilities not to mention the endless supply of tea and coffee.

 

These costs are negated when the employee works from home.  The employer may subsidise broadband, paper, print cartridges through an IT allowance or such like, but this is surely a rarity.  The majority of homes these days have internet capability whether it's good old fashioned dial up or the latest broadband package.

 

As long as the office based servers are available and accessible by whatever means and the network links can cope with the capacity requirements of numerous home workers 'connecting', home working must be seen as a viable option to most companies given the current climate.  It keeps their costs down and allows flexibility for the employee as long as they are disciplined and 'get the job done'.

 

The UK not being able to cope with severe weather conditions may not be as big an issue in the future and cost as much in lost productivity. Happy sledging!

 

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