I have to confess to not being a regular follower of the work of the Centre for Economics and Business Research - hence the reason I am writing a blog about a report they published in December 2014. I have clearly been missing out. But, we'll get to that in a bit.
This week has been one of those weeks when you are fully alive to the frustration and futility of being a commuter in London. Hours spent uncomfortably lodged under someone's armpit listening to [insert most despised music]. Your book unreadable whilst stuck to your face. Delays to reach further delays. Arriving at work (almost on time) looking as dischevelled as you had imaged appearing by clocking off o'clock. Repeat.
On Thursday an announcer at my local station in Metroland - a paradise constructed on the dream of living both the urban and suburban dream at once - proceeded to list the various chaos, cancellations and catastrophes of the morning. He ended with 'all other lines are running normally' - to which a sense of collective sigh echoed across the platform as people thought 'what other lines? He has just listed all the lines there are.'
Back to the excellent Centre for Economics and Business Research. Their publication Impacts of a Flexible Working Culture, produced in collaboration with Citrix, reveals some outstanding potential benefits to spending less of our lives travelling to sit in front of a different computer in a different room.
Their study found that 96% of the UK knowledge worker population that have flexible working utilise this opportunity, whilst 83% would do so if made available to them. This could add an extra £11.5bn per year to the economy (the equivalent of 0.7% of GDP) through a more productive use of working hours. More flexible working practices could save commuters £7.1bn (money people may decide to spend in their local high street), with a reduction in commuting costs and time spent travelling - which they rightly point out has a value.
Interestingly, more flexible working practices could also widen work opportunities for those previously excluded. The report points out that 68% of those currently unemployed, retired, caring, disabled, long-term sick or a full-time house husband/wife would be keen to start working if they were given the opportunity to work flexibly. What a brilliant way of unlocking human capital.
I suppose my question is, should we start questioning the wisdom of London's rail rush hour? Is it worth rethinking this whole spirit crushing start and finale to our working days. At a time when leaving things - the EU, Euro 2016 etc - seems all the rage, one cannot help but wonder whether we should be ditching our oyster cards too. Romantic as it is, perhaps our commuting culture has reached the end of the line?
This week has been one of those weeks when you are fully alive to the frustration and futility of being a commuter in London. Hours spent uncomfortably lodged under someone's armpit listening to [insert most despised music]. Your book unreadable whilst stuck to your face. Delays to reach further delays. Arriving at work (almost on time) looking as dischevelled as you had imaged appearing by clocking off o'clock. Repeat.
On Thursday an announcer at my local station in Metroland - a paradise constructed on the dream of living both the urban and suburban dream at once - proceeded to list the various chaos, cancellations and catastrophes of the morning. He ended with 'all other lines are running normally' - to which a sense of collective sigh echoed across the platform as people thought 'what other lines? He has just listed all the lines there are.'
Back to the excellent Centre for Economics and Business Research. Their publication Impacts of a Flexible Working Culture, produced in collaboration with Citrix, reveals some outstanding potential benefits to spending less of our lives travelling to sit in front of a different computer in a different room.
Their study found that 96% of the UK knowledge worker population that have flexible working utilise this opportunity, whilst 83% would do so if made available to them. This could add an extra £11.5bn per year to the economy (the equivalent of 0.7% of GDP) through a more productive use of working hours. More flexible working practices could save commuters £7.1bn (money people may decide to spend in their local high street), with a reduction in commuting costs and time spent travelling - which they rightly point out has a value.
Interestingly, more flexible working practices could also widen work opportunities for those previously excluded. The report points out that 68% of those currently unemployed, retired, caring, disabled, long-term sick or a full-time house husband/wife would be keen to start working if they were given the opportunity to work flexibly. What a brilliant way of unlocking human capital.
I suppose my question is, should we start questioning the wisdom of London's rail rush hour? Is it worth rethinking this whole spirit crushing start and finale to our working days. At a time when leaving things - the EU, Euro 2016 etc - seems all the rage, one cannot help but wonder whether we should be ditching our oyster cards too. Romantic as it is, perhaps our commuting culture has reached the end of the line?
Comments