Working flexibly: Technical tools for work life balance15 June 2006
An integral part of this new 'culture' of flexible working is broadband technology, indeed many of the working opportunities now available would not be possible without a high-speed internet connection.
Whether an employer, employee or independent worker it is essential that some effort is made to understand and utilise a broadband internet connection and related applications and equipment in order to benefit from flexible working packages.
There are a number of different technologies available to help both bosses and staff alike to improve their work life balance by harnessing the power and convenience of broadband.
Get connected
The rapid rise of high-speed broadband in the UK has really spurred the adoption of flexible working - without it working seamlessly away from the office would be far more inconvenient, if not impossible. Recent research by IDC predicted that the number of broadband subscriptions globally will double from 2005's figure of 205 million to reach 400 million by 2010. So for employers or individuals looking to facilitate flexible working, ensuring they get the right package is important. While there are a range of broadband providers, all of whom continually seem to launch ever faster and cheaper services, for small businesses and homeworkers a package like BT's Business Broadband could be ideal. With 8Mbps download speeds and anti-virus and firewall protection, as well as free connection, the package could tick all the boxes for those starting out with flexible working.
Access anywhere
Having the option to work from home on a regular basis can greatly improve the work life balance for employees, but without the necessary tools attempting to complete business tasks from home could take twice as long and cancel out the advantages. BT's Remote Access Pack is an application that allows users to access company data and files from home in the same way as they would if they were sat at their desk. This means that essential business information is at employees' fingertips, as well as full email and network access so that staff can be as productive at home or on the move as they are when office-based.
Converse online
While the Remote Access Pack offers email to staff working from home, it is still important that individuals are able to communicate directly with both colleagues and clients and if this can't be done face-to-face the next best thing is on the phone. In terms of keeping homeworkers in the company loop and in touch with clients, it is important that an affordable telephony solution is organised - and voice over internet protocol (VoIP) can offer significant voice call cost savings. BT's Business Broadband Voice allows users to retain their existing phone number and offers advanced call management functions - as well as saving up to 64 per cent compared to a traditional phone line.
Breakdown cover
Working from home means that should a technical hitch occur, it could be harder to get networks and programmes back up and running than if all the equipment, and therefore the problem, was based in the office. BT's IT Support Manager offers a 24-hour assistance service that allows IT problems to be diagnosed and rectified remotely - which means that business down time is reduced as faults can be repaired quickly and efficiently without a site visit.
Looking to a few simple applications such as these utilising broadband could make all the difference to British businesses and employees, as the ease of use, affordability and widespread availability of the high-speed internet connection can enhance work life balance to the benefit of everyone.
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