Is home working all it’s cracked up to be?

Is home working all it’s cracked up to be

Flexible working is often perceived as a benefit to employers and employees alike. But is it really such a good idea?

By Ernest Richardson

Since the late 1990s, there has been a noticeable shift towards flexible working, a trend that was significantly accelerated by the recent pandemic.

The common wisdom is that if you give employees flexibility about when and where they work, you empower them to make smarter use of their time, to go with the flow and deliver more for your business.

Staff with the freedom to work remotely tend to be more productive...  

A few years ago the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) set up a taskforce to encourage flexible working among employers. The initiative was supported by high-profile organisations such as the CIPD, CBI and TUC.

From an employer’s perspective, the benefits of flexible working are clear. Staff with the freedom to work remotely tend to be more productive and are more likely to stick with their job. They are also more likely to work additional hours in order to complete a task.

The reasons for their enthusiasm are obvious: if you work from home you miss the commute, have flexibility about when and where you work, and can fit working commitments around other activities such as sport, childcare or socialising.

And, of course, you have the distinct advantage of being able to spend the day in your pyjamas. Unless you have a video conference call, obvs.

Is home working all it’s cracked up to beBut there are doubts over the advantages to employees of flexible working. For example, a survey by Orange Business Services as long ago as 2007 found that 40 per cent of homeworkers didn’t feel as if they had more time by virtue of their working pattern. What is more, 45 per cent felt they were working more hours for less, because their working lives eat into evenings and weekends.

Another insight comes from an international study of flexible workers, which found that 41 per cent considered themselves “highly stressed”. When compared to the 25 per cent of on-site employees feeling comparable stress levels, it suggests the freedom of working remotely may not be such a boon, after all.

“The main issue with remote working is whether or not it’s sustainable for the job you do,” says Peter Foy, a director at Just Recruitment Group Ltd. “In our industry, for example, it wouldn’t really be possible to let employees work from home. So much of what we do involves face-to-face meetings, and working in an office where you have access to databases and colleagues’ intelligence and creativity.

For many home-workers, the biggest challenge is overcoming feelings of loneliness.  

“In fact,” he continues, “I think it could be quite isolating to work in our sector without coming to an office.”

This mention of isolation is pertinent. For many home-workers, the biggest challenge is overcoming feelings of loneliness. As irritating as the daily commute can be, it may be a price worth paying for the sake of interacting with colleagues during the working day.

“There is certainly a sense in which chatting to colleagues makes you better able to do your job,” says Mr Foy. “While it may reduce productivity in the sense of outputs, I think it can enhance an organisation’s culture in other ways.

“For example, I find conversations with my co-workers stimulating and wide-ranging. They add value to my working efforts and spark ideas. It may mean I get less done, but at a deeper level, I think it makes me better at my job.”

This may explain why many people—especially men—regard flexible working as career-limiting, fearing that it will impair their chances of promotion, or send a signal about a lack of hunger to progress.

“It is certainly a mixed picture,” concludes Mr Foy. “There will clearly be some industries, some companies, and some employees for whom remote and flexible working patterns make all kinds of sense. But it’s important not to accept its benefits uncritically. For many, the discipline of a daily trip to the office may be just what they need to succeed.”

 

If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
What are catalytic mechanisms?
We need a better politics, and it needs to happen in person

 

Published: 16 October 2024
© Copyright Just Recruitment Group Ltd 2024

Jobs currently available

New job
Warehouse Team Leader
Sector: Warehouse
Salary: £26,000 - £28,000 per annum
Location: Earls Colne
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913690
About the role

Just Recruitment is partnering with a well-established and successful business in Earls Colne to recruit a Warehouse Team Leader to join their long-standing team.

You will have previous warehouse experience or proven experience with a leadership position in a similar role.

Duties include:

  • Supervise employees as they undertake their activities related to order fulfilment
  • Ensure orders are fulfilled in a timely and effective manner
  • Be the first port of contact for employees, escalating problems to the management team when necessary
  • Ensure employees adhere to Health & Safety regulations and relevant laws
  • Monitor employee performance, monitoring their progress towards goals set
  • Monitor the warehouse housekeeping, ensuring a clean and safe work area is maintained
  • Picking accurately from locations and notifying the front-line manager of any shortages
  • Packing customer orders
  • Supervision of container loading and unloading

Ideal role requirements include:

  • Hold a valid Forklift Licence
  • Have good communication skills
  • Have proven leadership and employee management skills
  • Have knowledge of warehouse management systems (WMS)

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Shift Production Operator
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: Discussed on application
Location: Witham, Essex
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913691
About the role

Just Recruitment seeks a responsible and proactive Shift Production Operator for a manufacturer, based in Witham, Essex.

This is a shift-based role across seven days, involving:

  • Operating food manufacturing machinery
  • Updating paper records and entering data into IT systems
  • Performing cleaning duties to maintain hygiene standards
  • Working independently for the majority of the shift

Role responsibilities will include:

  • Operating filling equipment, a cooler and a product storage plant
  • Liaison with staff to determine availability of raw materials
  • Movement of product to the final store
  • Sampling of the product
  • General cleanliness of production areas, conveying equipment, coolers, etc.
  • Record keeping in line with quality procedures

Experience in production line operation in the food and beverage sector and knowledge of HACCP would be advantageous.

This role offers excellent company benefits, a competitive salary and shift allowance.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Weighbridge Operator
Sector: Engineering and Manufacturing
Salary: £33,042 per annum
Location: Witham, Essex
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913692
About the role

Just Recruitment seeks a Weighbridge Operator for a manufacturer based in Witham, Essex.

This role has a rotating day shift pattern - Monday to Friday, 6.00am to 2.30pm and 9.30am to 6.00pm.

Please note that during busy periods this role will also support production areas of the business that will cover working lates, earlies and weekends. (Shift allowance and full training will be provided.)

Duties will include:

  • Checking certificates of analysis
  • Completing bulk vehicle and container inspection reports
  • Ensure that samples are collected and delivered to the laboratory
  • Liaise with hauliers to ensure the efficient operation of the weighbridge
  • Weigh in and out of bulk lorries and containers
  • Use of computerised systems to include stock transfers, production orders
  • Completing all associated paperwork accurately and clearly

This role offers excellent company benefits.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. 
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Warehouse Assistant
Sector: Warehouse
Salary: Competitive
Location: Haverhill
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913686
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing organisation, based in Haverhill, looking to recruit a Warehouse Assistant to their growing team.

The key purpose of this role is to support the wider warehouse team with all of the day-to-day warehouse duties, including picking, packing, forklift duties and handballing.

Requirements for this role:

  • Able to carry out all general warehouse duties while maintaining a clean and safe environment.
  • Physically fit and active – the role is 80% manual handling (handballing), including:
  • Picking and packing
  • Loading and unloading
  • A team player with a flexible attitude to support smooth operations and help meet daily targets.

The working hours for this role are from 10am to 7pm, Monday to Friday with lots of overtime on offer if wanted.

To be considered for this role, you must have a valid forklift licence, and in-house licences can be considered.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing business that is offering further development.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more
New job
Forklift Truck Driver/Warehouse Assistant
Sector: Warehouse
Salary: £26,000 - £28,000 per annum
Location: Earls Colne
Role: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Job ref: 913689
About the role

Just Recruitment is working with a growing organisation based in Earls Colne, looking to recruit a Forklift Truck Driver/ Warehouse Assistant for their team.

You will operate a forklift with the utmost care to ensure efficiency and safety whilst manoeuvring around the warehouse, yard, and storage areas. You will be responsible for moving goods around the site. The goal is to ensure that the goods will always be in the right location to achieve maximum efficiency. In addition to driving forklifts, you will also have a range of warehouse duties.

Duties include:

  • Ensure that the forklift driving areas are free from spills or obstructions
  • Daily checking of the forklift and forklift equipment for faults and damages, reporting any faults or damage to the Fulfilment Manager
  • Safely stacking and unstacking large quantities of goods into racking or onto pallets
  • Unloading deliveries into the storage area
  • Moving goods from the storage area to the loading area for transport
  • Loading goods onto vehicles
  • Safely relocating the goods to their assigned location
  • Use industrial plastic wraps and wooden pallets to safely stack and package goods for transport

Role requirements include:

  • Counterbalance Forklift Licence (Essential)
  • Flexi/Reach/Bendi/Pivot Forklift Licence (Desirable)
  • Previous experience working in a warehouse role
  • Proven experience as a forklift driver

Hours: Monday to Friday, 08.30 to 17.30.
Saturdays are a requirement of this role, worked as dictated.

 

Just Recruitment acts as an employment agency for permanent roles.
The salary advertised is the bracket available for this position. The actual salary paid will be dependent on your level of experience, qualifications and skill set.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitable candidates.

 

Read more