A support framework for remote workers

• Marieke Guy
• Ariadne

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02 July 2009The central thrust of this article is that improvements in remote working will not occur consistently without some form of structured process and that more strategic benefits evolve as the increased profile of remote workers is acknowledged in organisational policy.

In previous articles on remote working [1] [2] Marieke Guy has written about the positive and negative aspects of working from home and the technologies that can support one to do so. This article aims to discuss how she and her coworkers at UKOLN, have put this theory into practice by creating a support framework for remote workers. It is a case study of what can be done with enthusiastic staff, support from managers and faith in an iterative process. It is also a reality check. Remote working continues to be an aspiration for so many yet the reality is not always plain sailing. However what remote working does offer, if it can be realised, is choice and flexibility; two increasingly required job characteristics that let the best employees work to the best of their ability.