Ever since the early 1990’s specialists from various areas of the workplace industry
(property, IT, behavioural) have been hinting at the new world where most of us Work From Home. This new world order based on the growth in technology and a new age of Internet Business entrepreneurs has promised a lot but really would seem to have failed to deliver.

Firstly, the argument that a large number of us would in effect have what amounts to online jobs has not occurred. The definition of online jobs in this instance is not usual, the model developed by workplace professionals would see the vast majority of corporate employees employed to work from home, connection to the office would be via their PC. While in most cases these people would have communication on a regular basis with management and team members they would effectively carry out their responsibilities via the PC, therefore in essence they will have Online Jobs.

The reality of how working patterns have changed is however, somewhat different. There is no doubt that there has been a growth in flexible working, by which is meant the capability to work in a number of different places and a degree of choice and liberty displayed by the employee in deciding the most correct location for that work but whatever the advances in technology, broadband availability and changes in management customs the sea change just hasn’t happened.

There are a number of explanations why not. Firstly, while development in technology have made remote working possible, changes in the nature of work have made it undesirable. Workplace behaviourists have recognised that the vast majority of office based workers now regraded as knowledge workers, produce output concepts, services and strategies. In order for them to work effectively they need interaction (formal and informal) with colleagues, managers and difficult to verify. So while the property costs and benefits are easily measured the real benefits in terms of the contribution to core business of the company can not be evaluated, even in the case of an Internet Business, where the total transaction takes place online, there is still a case for co-location and contact which cannot be proven or discounted.

With these two rival factors the growth of flexible working has been unhurried and until workplace industry can display the benefits of productivity or make a solid case for no human contact then it is unlikely we will see the promised sea change in working patterns and behaviours.