Newcastle bridges gap between home and working life

Newcastle City Council is claiming to have gained big productivity benefits from a home working trial. The small trial showed a 25% productivity boost and a 75% reduction in sick days.

The three-month pilot, entitled the City Service Work Styles Project, equipped staff with broadband connections and allowed them to work from their homes.

All the home workers reported feeling less stressed, healthier, focused on work and relieved that they no longer had to travel to their jobs.

The gains were offset against set-up costs of £500 to £1700, depending on the homeworker's systems set up. Councillor Anita Lower, executive member for modernisation, transformation and regulation, said work will now start to roll out the pilot to the rest of the authority.