The organiser of Work Wise Week, Work Wise UK has announced plans for this year’s week of events, which aim to highlight the benefits of flexible working for businesses and their employees.

From 15-21 May, employers will be asked to allow staff to trial Work Wise concepts, such as working from home, reducing business travel and improving work-life balance, as part of Work Wise Week.

‘National Work From Home Day’, the week’s first initiative, is scheduled to take place on 15 May. Participants are being urged to show their employers that homeworking can be as productive as being in an office.

The 2007 Work Life Balance survey conducted by the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform showed that 92 % of businesses believe people work best when they can balance their work and other aspects of their lives. Work Wise UK wants half of UK employees to be working flexibility by the end of its campaign programme in 2011.

“Work Wise Week is a chance for hard-working, open-minded people to demonstrate that without the stress induced by the workplace environment,” said Work Wise UK chief executive Phil Flaxton. “With the often long commute many have to endure, people can be even more productive by occasionally working from home.”

The initiative is supported by the Trades Union Congress, the Confederation of British Industry and the Equal Opportunities Commission. The Working Families charity claims that the businesses that implement the highlighted practices will benefit from cost savings, higher returns, improved service delivery and the recruitment and retention of quality employees.