Survey reveals that the UK wants to get out of the office but flexible working still ceases to be a real option for many
More than half of Britons would like to work outdoors given the choice, according to research undertaken by Orange Business Services. But the poll suggests that bosses continue to discourage employees from working flexibly.
Despite our washout summer, 56 per cent of workers would still like to spend part of their week working outside demonstrating a resolute British refusal to let the weather dampen their spirits, with the park the favoured alternative destination. J K Rowling's make shift office, the coffee shop, was the most popular choice for over a quarter (26 per cent) of the workforce with a further quarter opting for the tranquillity of a library, to complete work tasks.
Martin Lyne, director of small business, Orange Business Services, UK, comments: "We're seeing a new shift in people's attitude to the work environment. Even after such an awful summer people are still keen to leave the confines of the office and work outdoors. The ready availability of easy to use mobile technology and the increase of wireless hotspots is spurring on people's enthusiasm. For the younger generation particularly ‘at the office' is a state of mind and there is no reason at all why the rest of the UK workforce can't be as productive in the park or in the coffee shop as they are when they are at their desk."
But the UK's enthusiasm for more flexible working is not matched by employers. Thirty nine per cent of employees stated that their companies did not offer flexible working while a further 32 per cent said that even if their company did offer some type of flexible working it was either discouraged or impractical.
However, the survey suggests that employee attitudes may be forced to change. Amongst the 56 per cent who wanted to work outside, the largest age group was between 18 and 34 years old, part of the generation Y and the future workforce, who have grown up with the internet, mobile phones and the emergence of flexible working.
Young entrepreneur and member of the Orange Graduate Panel, Luke Aikmen, comments: "Young people no longer feel that they have to work in a office and are starting to demand freedom in their working habits which might explain some of the poll findings. The younger work force feels confident to try out different things and experiment with their careers, which can mean starting their own business or working in a contractor on consultant type role, hence expecting or setting their own flexible working conditions. In order to attract and keep new talent employers are going to have to look beyond the four walls of an office."
On a regional scale the rolling hills and open waterways of Wales and the Midlands inspired the greatest demand from employees to work outdoors, while the Scottish still desired to work out of the office they felt the most chained to their desks.
Details and further findings of the poll:
The YouGov poll asked over 1400 workers, across different age groups, regions and gender, in the UK to give their views on working outside of the office and working patterns.
* Scottish workers felt the most constrained by their jobs with nearly 50 per cent from the region responding that flexible working was not an option at their company.
* 41 per cent simply said they could not do their job other than in their assigned place of work.
* 32 per cent said that even if their company did offer some type of flexible working it was either discouraged or impractical.
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