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Survey aims to find business view of new 50 per cent tax rate
24 Oct 2009
14 September 2009
Will the UK’s new 50 per cent income tax rate for high earners raise the additional revenue the government needs to restore its balance sheet?
Behaviour is the Key to Avoiding Flash-in-the-Pan Results
17 Sep 2009
Good leadership comes from behaviour, not just intelligence or personality, according to a leading management expert.
UK Small Business Owners Driving Flexible Working
16 Jul 2009
A new study published this month, “Worldwide Workplace: The Web Commuting Imperative”, reveals how UK small business owners are recognising the role of flexible working practices in business, with almost two-thirds (62%) actively supporting remote working. The independent research, commissioned by Citrix Online, also shows 84% believe offering flexible hours is essential to running a successful business, with 46% stating flexible hours as the key to attracting and retaining the best talent.
Osteopaths Stress Importance of Health in the Work Place
15 May 2009
An estimated 12.3 million working days are lost every year through work-related health problems. With the current economic downturn people are increasingly aware of the need to prove their own efficiency in the work place and their health may be suffering. Long hours sat at a desk hunched over the computer screen can in the long term cause more problems than just the initial aches and pains.
One Phone, Two SIMs
15 May 2009
At last the geeks have realised that home and work need to be interchangeable and easy, as Tattu Mobile announce the launch of the TS500 dual SIM multimedia mobile phone, which lets users to make and receive calls on either one of two SIM cards housed inside the phone.
BT Business reveals 42% of workers say they could be more productive out of the office
15 May 2009
BT Business and Nortel have revealed new independent research* statistics showing that less than one in ten (8%) of the UK's businesses trust their employees to work out of the office - despite the 42% of workers who are confident that they could do a better job remotely.
New regualtions could cost small businesses up to £800 million
18 Mar 2009
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) argues that new regulations planned for the spring should be held over until later in the year as they could cost small businesses up to £800 million.
Publisher's Tips to Help You Survive the Recession
05 Mar 2009
If you publish a newsletter, magazine or catalogue, you'll be aware that prices for paper pulp, ink, transportation and postage have all risen in the last 12 months.
BT Business reveals 42% of workers say they could be more productive out of the office
05 Mar 2009
BT Business and Nortel have revealed new independent research* statistics showing that less than one in ten (8%) of the UK's businesses trust their employees to work out of the office - despite the 42% of workers who are confident that they could do a better job remotely.
Date for claiming VAT refunds approaches
05 Mar 2009
Tax tips for home-based businesses
14 Feb 2009
The economic downturn will result in more business owners working from home, according to Target Chartered Accountants.
Over half UK set to increase ecommerce spend for Christmas 2009
14 Feb 2009
UK Broadband Demand Not Far Ahead of Supply
14 Feb 2009
The initial findings of Ofcom's report 'Consumer experience of broadband performance', released this week, look likely to cause a stir.
Franchising Starts to Prosper Due to Recession
30 Jan 2009
2009 is predicted to be a boom year for the franchise industry according to specialist consultancy Franchise Development Services (FDS).
Income tax won't help the self-employed
04 Dec 2008
While talk of income tax cuts may seem a welcome solution to the current economic crisis, they would do nothing to help the immediate plight of the 3.8 million self employed workers, who won't see any benefit until January 2010, according to experts at The Tax Advice Network.
Work - Home Business News Archive
Survey aims to find business view of new 50 per cent tax rate
24 Oct 2009
14 September 2009
Will the UK’s new 50 per cent income tax rate for high earners raise the additional revenue the government needs to restore its balance sheet?
Behaviour is the Key to Avoiding Flash-in-the-Pan Results
17 Sep 2009
Good leadership comes from behaviour, not just intelligence or personality, according to a leading management expert.
UK Small Business Owners Driving Flexible Working
16 Jul 2009
A new study published this month, “Worldwide Workplace: The Web Commuting Imperative”, reveals how UK small business owners are recognising the role of flexible working practices in business, with almost two-thirds (62%) actively supporting remote working. The independent research, commissioned by Citrix Online, also shows 84% believe offering flexible hours is essential to running a successful business, with 46% stating flexible hours as the key to attracting and retaining the best talent.
Osteopaths Stress Importance of Health in the Work Place
15 May 2009
An estimated 12.3 million working days are lost every year through work-related health problems. With the current economic downturn people are increasingly aware of the need to prove their own efficiency in the work place and their health may be suffering. Long hours sat at a desk hunched over the computer screen can in the long term cause more problems than just the initial aches and pains.
One Phone, Two SIMs
15 May 2009
At last the geeks have realised that home and work need to be interchangeable and easy, as Tattu Mobile announce the launch of the TS500 dual SIM multimedia mobile phone, which lets users to make and receive calls on either one of two SIM cards housed inside the phone.
BT Business reveals 42% of workers say they could be more productive out of the office
15 May 2009
BT Business and Nortel have revealed new independent research* statistics showing that less than one in ten (8%) of the UK's businesses trust their employees to work out of the office - despite the 42% of workers who are confident that they could do a better job remotely.
New regualtions could cost small businesses up to £800 million
18 Mar 2009
The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) argues that new regulations planned for the spring should be held over until later in the year as they could cost small businesses up to £800 million.
Publisher's Tips to Help You Survive the Recession
05 Mar 2009
If you publish a newsletter, magazine or catalogue, you'll be aware that prices for paper pulp, ink, transportation and postage have all risen in the last 12 months.
BT Business reveals 42% of workers say they could be more productive out of the office
05 Mar 2009
BT Business and Nortel have revealed new independent research* statistics showing that less than one in ten (8%) of the UK's businesses trust their employees to work out of the office - despite the 42% of workers who are confident that they could do a better job remotely.
Date for claiming VAT refunds approaches
05 Mar 2009
Tax tips for home-based businesses
14 Feb 2009
The economic downturn will result in more business owners working from home, according to Target Chartered Accountants.
Over half UK set to increase ecommerce spend for Christmas 2009
14 Feb 2009
UK Broadband Demand Not Far Ahead of Supply
14 Feb 2009
The initial findings of Ofcom's report 'Consumer experience of broadband performance', released this week, look likely to cause a stir.
Franchising Starts to Prosper Due to Recession
30 Jan 2009
2009 is predicted to be a boom year for the franchise industry according to specialist consultancy Franchise Development Services (FDS).
Income tax won't help the self-employed
04 Dec 2008
While talk of income tax cuts may seem a welcome solution to the current economic crisis, they would do nothing to help the immediate plight of the 3.8 million self employed workers, who won't see any benefit until January 2010, according to experts at The Tax Advice Network.
UK Small Business Owners Driving Flexible Working
16 Jul 2009
The study, available at www.workshifing.com , also shows that 39% of small business owners would allow employees to work away from the office if they requested the option, which bodes well for the additional 4.5m parents who now have the right to apply for flexible working following the introduction of new government legislation on 6th April.
Small business owners are keen to adopt flexible working and Web Commuting – using the internet to work from anywhere - personally, with 62% stating they would like the opportunity to work remotely, with the top benefit being the ability to have more control over their day, according to 43% of respondents. They also recognised the benefits of Web Commuting for their employees, identifying greater job satisfaction as the key overall benefit, with 67% agreeing that Web Commuting would appeal to their employees.
The study reveals small business owners are keen to pass on these benefits, with 39% saying they will allow employees to web commute if they requested it. Other occasions included family emergencies (46%), personal illness (45%) and bad weather (39%). Of those small business owners who required employees to travel, 63% are willing to allow employees to participate in online meetings, rather than travel for in-person meetings, recognising increased productivity (26%) and reduced expenses (19%) as the single most important benefit.
Key findings were:
• 81% of UK small business owners say flexible hours are key to business success, followed by online working (46%)
• 39% of UK small business owners would allow employees to work remotely if they asked for the option
• Flexible hours tops list of benefits small business owners believe will attract the best talent
• 1 in 5 UK employees would take a pay cut in favour of flexible working
The appeal of Web Commuting among the surveyed workers is also evident, with 61% stating they would like the ability to work remotely, away from the office, in their current or next job. One out of five respondents also said they would take a pay cut in order to work remotely and more flexibly.
When questioned on the best thing about working remotely, work-life balance topped the survey with 35% of workers saying having more control over their day was a top priority, followed by 21% who stated saving money on travel was the key benefit. Two thirds (66%) agree that easy access to their office computer, from any location, would be very valuable; with 55% saying they would benefit from a way to meet with people online.
“Flexible working driven by Web Commuting can give businesses an edge - especially in this difficult economic environment - since employees can be productive working from anywhere at any time. It also enables them to retain the best talent, improve staff morale, and meet work-life balance needs of their workers,” said Brett Caine, general manager of Citrix Online. “It’s especially encouraging that small business owners are demonstrating a forward-looking approach to flexible working, considering they make up 99% of UK businesses.”
“Enabling a remote workforce to help drive efficiencies in the workplace doesn’t have to be expensive,” continued Caine. “With Web-based access and collaboration technologies, businesses of any size can quickly, easily and very cost effectively mobilise a remote workforce, without the need for expensive and complex on-premise infrastructure requirements.”
The study questioned 500 UK workers and a further 230 UK small business owners employing 100 people or less, on issues relating to ‘Web Commuting’ - the practice of using the internet in order to work at any time, from anywhere.
For more information on work life balance see our articles:
For advice on starting your own home business see our Funky Business Section.
For advice on making sure you have the admin and legal requirements, not to mention your home office, sorted properly, see our Funky Office Section.
And if you would like to start your own home business or are in the midst of it and could do with some support to get started or move to the next stage, with marketing or PR for your business, or with simply balancing work and home, then Claire, our founder and home working expert, professional writer and marketeer can help you - see the Business Midwife section for more information and case studies.