22 Feb 2010

Homeworking 'can boost productivity'

Individuals who work outside the office environment can be more productive as they have fewer distractions, it has been claimed.

Mark Lewis, senior Europe, Middle East and Africa director of marketing and alliances at Riverbed, said having in place the right IT infrastructure to carry out home working is just the first step in maximising performance, while the second is ensuring staff are motivated and trusted to do their jobs well.

He commented: "If organisations have the right infrastructure in place, working from home can often prove to be more productive to many employees as there are less distractions."

According to research carried out by business internet service provider Lumison, 50 per cent of the office workers surveyed said that their bosses remain sceptical about whether people are really working if they are not in the office.

As a result, 27 per cent of respondents went so far as to say their bosses valued being present over being productive.