Times Online has produced ‘The 10 best ways to cut petrol costs’ in a bid to help drivers make their fuel go further which includes tips such as; pumping up your tyres, turning off the air-conditioning, driving smoothly and changing oil regularly.

Although there is no doubt that these tips can make some difference (and actually I adhere to many of them myself already) there is no substitute to reducing fuel expenditure by being in a position to drive less!

Not only are drivers being taxed more in a poor economic climate, London commuters are going to see a rise in the congestion charge to £10 and those taking the TUBE, train or bus will also experience rises in fares (as bus fares are to go up by 12.7% and TUBE fares by 3.9%).

As we are all aware, unemployment rates are at their highest for years and as a result people who are in employment are working twice as hard to keep their jobs and are gritting their teeth against the cost and inconvenience of long commutes until such time that they can choose where they want to work.

My head therefore turns to the employers – how do they keep their employees, who have remained loyal through the recession, once the recovery brings more employment options to the suitably qualified?

Homeworking is the key to employee retention

Incorporating home or remote working practices for roles which are able to be performed outside the office environment has a multitude of benefits, so I have whittled down my top ten:

1. Home working tackles the rising costs of commuting for employees making them less resentful and more keen to stay with your organisation
2. It also tackles the extra costs associated with working in an office e.g. work clothes, make up, shoes etc.
3. It introduces a better work/life balance by reducing commuting times and leads to happier, more productive employees
4. Home working will increase employee loyalty once the recovery and employment choice increases
5. It saves organisations costs in terms of heating, lighting and equipment as well as less need for office space
6. For employees there is no need to buy expensive lunches or feel you have to go out for lunch with colleagues for birthday’s etc.
7. Co-workers can only judge you on what you get done rather than when you arrive at or leave the office
8. Employees don’t need to take time off work to be able to let the gas man or repair man in
9. When people decide to bring their flu and bugs into the office you can avoid getting sick
10. It’s been shown that people who work from home take fewer sick days

If you are a home worker and have experienced these or any other benefits I’d be interested to hear your point of view…or indeed you think that home working simply isn’t an option for you because your organisational culture would not embrace it.