26 April 2007

The rise in flexible working opportunities brought about by the Internet could be good news for parents, it has been claimed.

Lorely Burt, the Liberal Democrat spokesperson for women and small businesses, appealed for the extension of flexible working rights to parents with children up to the age of 18.

The official suggests that by using the Internet and remote technology to work from home, parents who need to care for their children and young mothers on maternity leave will still be able to contribute to an organisation, rather than merely being an additional expense.

"DTI [Department of Trade and Industry] research in 2000 found that some small businesses saved up to £250,000 through reduced staff turnover, simply by adopting flexible working policies," she remarked.

Work Wise UK, a non-profit organisation which seeks to promote flexible working practices, states that the increasing proliferation of broadband plays a major role in companies' ability to offer "smarter" working practices for their staff.

© Adfero Ltd

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