Unit 2 The Working Environment

1. Unit 2 The Working Environment Unit 2a – Office Layout Changing Work Patterns

2. Homeworking/Teleworking • Employees work from home some or all of the time. • They communicate with the office using telephones, mobiles, email, faxes, etc • Only suitable for certain jobs

3. Advantages • Individuals can work times that suit them • Saves time and costs travelling to work • Less stressful for employees • People with disabilities can work from home • Can keep hold of valuable members of staff who might otherwise leave, eg women who have just had a baby • Less office space required - saving on rent, heat, light etc • Workers may be more productive • The organisation can employ people who don't live near to the office

4. Disadvantages • Difficult to supervise • Feelings of isolation • Low morale • Hard to arrange training • It is hard to feel like you can ever get away from work. • A lot of distractions • Workers might not be at home to receive an email or urgent telephone call

5. Hot Desks • A desk or workstation, equipped with standard equipment, which may be used by employees who need to visit the organisation to undertake some work. • Should be booked in advance for use by any employee. • Must be left neat and tidy, the way it was found as many employees need to use it.

6. HOT ROOM • A place to hold meetings. • Must be booked in advance in the same way as a hot desk. • Good for confidential discussions.

7. Touchdown areas • For employees who make brief visits to the office. Eg to send an e-mail or fax. • May take the form of a coffee bar with high tables and stools. • Not BOOKABLE they are meant to be used for very short periods of time.

8. Job Sharing • Employees share a full time job between them. • Each employee is paid a proportion of the full-time salary. • Suitable for employees who do not wish to take on a full-time work commitment. • If one of the job-share partners is off sick, the other might be willing to cover. • Not suitable for all types of employment.

9. Advantages • Employers are often able to keep staff (who may otherwise have left). • Because of a reduced working commitment staff morale is improved. • Two people sharing a job often provide different skills and expertise. • Allows a good work/life balance.

10. Flexitime • Employees are given some flexibility in organising their starting/finishing times. • Allows employees to start/leave early or late or take a longer lunch-break. • Employees are required to be at work each day during core time. • Employees have to clock in and out to record times of arrival/departure.

11. Advantages • Allows an employee to: • choose their own working hours (outwith core time) • avoid peak travelling times. • build up extra hours and ‘bank’ these to take time off at a later date. • organise their working hours around personal commitments. • Advantages to employers: • Core time allows employers/customers to know when staff are in the workplace. • Core time allows meetings to be arranged (with all staff). • Staff less likely to take time off, eg doctor, dentist appointments • Staff will be more motivated and work harder. • Less absenteeism

12. Implications of change • Plan how change will be introduced • Introduce change gradually • Inform employees what is happening • Involve employees • Provide appropriate training • Monitor the process of change at each stage