How Home Working Helps Smes Close The Skills Gap And Enables The Disabled

I think our SMEs (small and medium enterprises) are missing a trick. There is an army of bright, sophisticated people who find it nigh impossible to gain employment in their specialist areas. At times, when I meet with certain friends from this group, I see how carefully society treats them and how employers keep them at arms length. I'm enthused about the amount of latent talent in this group of so-called 'different' people; people who have the misfortune to be labelled as having a disability which devalues them in employers' eyes.

Flexible home-working practises can aid employers, employees and these potential employees by reducing the effort wasted on commuting, reducing stress by the introduction of home working practises and helping improve the skills gap by re-engaging those excluded groups.

I have known some shocking incidents of discrimination, throughout my life and from my years in medicine, so will expand upon one story from that forgotten skill set. Andrew is now 39 and is diagnosed with schizophrenia. He is clever, ambitious and kind and always had a forte for politics. Despite completing his exams and volunteering help for his favourite political party, he could not get accepted for any official work. After many applications and no successes, his frustrated father made a suggestion. Knowing Andrew was capable of writing on political news and the implications of political decisions, he encouraged him to submit work to local papers. With almost 5 years of rejections and ignored applications, he began to gain a glimpse of respect. Slowly, he formed a local reputation and editors began to ask for a column on one aspect or another, realising that readers wanted to know his views. However, his presence was never requested in news offices. His dream of being a Political Presenter slipped away and he enjoyed a remote, freelance arrangement.

A successful man, you may think, but only because he took the incentive to set himself up working from home. Not everyone is capable in that way and not everyone has the support or space that Alan did. Our school-registration tradition of working is unnecessary and impossible for some. There can be a level of trust between employer and employee based on quality and productivity, instead of physical presence.

SMEs and large corporates all report that flexible home-working policies increase loyalty, productivity and efficiency. Home workers take full advantage of modern communication technologies which enable them to be flexible in their times, efficient and super-productive in their work. Employees who work flexibly tend to have more company loyalty and better quality of life, no doubt due in part to the low stress levels. A recent BBC Radio 2 survey reported that homeworkers were up to 30% more productive and attributed the extra effort to employees wanting to impress bosses and not seem like they were slacking at home.

That's where my sales pitch could come in for garden offices as a perfect home-working solution. It's a fact that people with a chronic disease or genetic illness enjoy a better quality of life if they can work, even part-time. Work satisfaction boosts self-esteem and can distract from stressors. It's a feeling of being valued, needed and respected. It's an opportunity to give something back to the community and society. This vast excluded group may appear different from our traditional workforce but represent a sure way to close our skills gaps with remote working. If you like the idea - place your vote for this article. If you want to comment - you can do that too.

Jewel attained a
medical degree with Honours in 2003. She is passionate about
environmental issues and the benefits of home-working, including the
health and environmental advantages of flexible working practices -
among others. She currently works from home as a company Director and
tends to her growing family. Jewel has formed a show-case website of
top quality garden building designs and best value for money working solutions so call
today on UK 02890 425538; RoI 0044 2890 425538.

For free information and advice on all aspects of sustainable timber
structures and home working visit our feel-good website:
www.studioni.co.uk

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com