O2 to test flexible working scheme

Office design news from Morgan Lovell

Published on 08-02-2012

Mobile phone company O2 is due to test a flexible working initiative that will see 25% of its 12,000-strong workforce in the UK work from home.

O2 said the scheme, which will involve workers at its offices in Slough, Berkshire, was part of its Olympics contingency plan to deal with potential disruption during the Games.

The company added that allowing its employees to work from home, a local cafe or an O2 store had already saved the firm millions of pounds in overheads.

O2 business director Ben Dowd said: "Today’s office-wide flexible working initiative is an opportunity for us to take the next step on our flexible working journey and tangibly demonstrate the opportunity and potential available to British businesses today."

O2 said it will make the results of the trial available to other companies, as it claimed that 40% of businesses believe flexible work hours increase staff productivity but most have ineffective schemes in place.

Copyright Press Association 2012