Experts Reveal Why Some People Are More Productive Working From Home

EVER since the Pandemic hit, Government guidance was that people should work from home where possible. While these restrictions have since been lifted, a lot of staff have found the benefits of working from home more appealing than going into the workplace every day. Some managers and business owners find this surprising, given the lack of objections to what was standard working practices before the Pandemic. While the technology has allowed remote and hybrid working patterns (which is a balance of remote and in person working) for a while, it wasn't until people were made to adapt to it that some realised it's a better solution for them. It's left business owners wondering why some people flourish with remote working while others long to be back in the workplace. That's why the team at Will Sill have revealed why people are more productive at work.

Why Do Some People Prefer To Work From Home?

► Man working from home... There are plenty of reasons why someone might want to work from home instead of in an office. 1 of the biggest reasons is it suits their personality. Some find offices to be crowded, noisy and distracting - especially if they're more introverted than others. This can lead to them feeling stressed more easily than others. This is just 1 part of the equation, however. There are plenty of reasons why remote working appeals, and once staff have gotten used to it, they might not want to go back to what the status quo from before the change. This can lead to headaches for businesses looking to maximise the use of their workplace.

► Out Of Work Commitments... Life doesn't stop just because we go to work, and there are things we all have to balance at different times. This might be childcare commitments, for example, whether that's cost-cutting or spending more time with the kids. There might be things happening at home you have to be around for, such as renovations or repair work - even if it's just to let people in. This can't be done while in the workplace. Medical appointments often take place during working hours, too, which means more time out of the office travelling closer to home to get to your local GP clinic. Being at home means less time not working, so there are plenty of things which make working more practical.

► Avoiding Long Commutes... For many people, there's a commute involved in going to and from work. This can be over an hour each way in some cases, which is a lot of time lost every day. Even if employees use public transport, which means they can read or do something else along the way, it's not the most enjoyable or relaxing of times. Delays due to traffic, accidents or road works can also add to stress levels about getting to work on time, or making other plans at the end of the day. By not having to put up with this each day, people can enjoy more of their time and do things they want.

► Better Mental and Physical Health... The lack of commute means remote workers have more time in the day to do things that they want to do. There is no need to spend an hour or more going to and from work. There's also no need to spend the morning getting ready for work. After all, there's no reason to look good if nobody is going to see you. This gives you more time to focus on yourself in the morning and evening. Whether that be through reading, relaxing or exercising.

► Less Water Cooler Talk... Working from home means you have far fewer idle conversations with other members of the team. People who work from home talk less to coworkers, whether or not it's work related. Remote work minimises the amount of social interaction you have and makes that interaction more meaningful. Chatting over email or direct messaging has more purpose behind it than just talking for talkings sake.

► More Opportunities Without Relocating... Remote working means employees can apply for jobs anywhere in the country; or even the world; without having to relocate. Suddenly the number of job opportunities increases drastically, meaning they have much more leverage in negotiations on salary and work life balances, as well as responsibilities. For people with families, having to relocate can be stressful, and it causes disruption for everyone involved, especially children. The move itself, changing Schools, and becoming a part of a new community is extra pressure on top of a new job. Working remotely means this doesn't have to happen; or at least, not right away.

What are your thoughts on this? Please do email them to us at:- News24@SouthportReporter.Com.

Latest figures on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards in England are published

NEW statistics show the number of applications to legally deprive a person of their liberty, where they lacked the mental capacity to consent to care or treatment, in 2021 to 2022. NHS Digital has published the latest information on the use of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), a legal procedure when an adult who lacks mental capacity to consent to their care or treatment is deprived of their liberty1 in a care home or Hospital to keep them safe from harm. In England, all deprivations of liberty in a care home or Hospital must be independently assessed and authorised by a Local Authority2 to ensure they are in the person's best interests.

Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, 2021 to 2022; NHS Digital report provides information on applications for DoLS3, including:-

► How many applications were received and completed by Local Authorities.

► The time taken to process applications.

► Reasons for applications not being granted.

► Demographic information about people for whom a DoLS application was made.

► The planned and actual duration of authorisations granted by Local Authorities.

More detailed analysis of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards data is available at local, Regional and national levels on request. All of NHS Digital's statistics on adult social care are available via the new Adult Social Care Data Hub, which includes links to the publications, dashboards and information about the data collections.

Views sought on options to streamline driver licensing and support jobs

VIEWS are being sought on how to make it easier to land a successful career in logistics, as the Government continues to tackle the global driver shortage, support new jobs and bolster the UK's supply chain. The views submitted by members of the public and industry professionals will help answer important questions and assist the Government with ongoing research into how Post Brexit freedoms are used to remove red tape and create opportunities for people across the country. Some of the potential options set out in the Call for Evidence; which was on Friday, 5 August 2022, includes:- creating a formal register of HGV driving instructors, and publishing pass rates for instructors. This could help improve HGV driver training standards, raise the profile of the profession and enhance road safety. The Call for Evidence will also seek views on whether the UK should permit mechanics who already hold an HGV licence to drive vehicles like buses or coaches for repair purposes and reintroducing other lost so called:- 'grandfather rights' in the UK.

Questions around reintroducing grandfather rights explore whether the UK should allow those who hold a normal car driving licence to drive certain larger vans or smaller lorries up to 7.5t. Prior to 1 January 1997, people who passed their driving test for a normal car also obtained the right to drive heavier, larger vehicles up to 8.25t weight and minibuses; these entitlements were removed by the EU.

No decisions have been made on whether these rights should be reintroduced and the Government is keen for views from a wide range of stakeholders to inform its future approach to the issue, as well as the rest of the areas under consideration in the Call for Evidence. Any changes would need to ensure continued safe use of our roads and be economically proportionate. There could possibly be restrictions based on age or driving experience, which is reflected in the questions set out in the Call for Evidence.

It comes as part of wider Government efforts to help more people into work, since this is the best way to support families in the long term while growing the economy to address the cost of living.

This follows the Government's 33 actions already taken to tackle the HGV driver shortage and protect the supply chain, which has seen record numbers of HGV driving test pass rates and positive reports from the sector of stable driver numbers.  

Transport Minister Karl McCartney said:- "Our country has a robust supply chain and our ongoing and unprecedented support for the haulage sector means that the number of HGV drivers is stabilising. We continue looking for ways to make it easier and quicker to kickstart a rewarding career in logistics. That's why we're asking people for their views on how we could streamline the licensing process and remove any potential barriers; making the most of our post-Brexit freedoms."

The Government's unprecedented actions to help the sector tackle the global shortage of drivers has included making 11,000 HGV driver training places available through Skills Bootcamps, injecting a major and sustained boost to the number of HGV driver tests available, and investing £52.5 million in improvements in roadside facilities and lorry parking.

Since then the sector has started to recover and industry bodies have said they're seeing HGV driver numbers stabilise. They indicate that the initiatives introduced by Government and industry have started to yield results, showing that perceptions of the industry are changing as a result of Government support and more people are looking to train and qualify as HGV drivers.

New HGV drivers are taking and passing their driving test in record numbers. Between March 2022 and May 2022, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) carried out 29,384 HGV tests; 54% more than the corresponding period in 2019 before the Pandemic.

The Government recently launched The Future of Freight Plan, encouraging millions of people across the UK to kickstart an exciting career in logistics, with a multi million pound new plan unveiled to bolster the supply chain and create a more resilient and greener haulage sector. The plan includes a major campaign, launched in June 2022, to recruit and retain a skilled workforce in the logistics sector.

Research Reveals Modern Parents in the North West Are the Most Lenient in History

NEW research reveals that modern parenting styles in the North West are more lenient than previous generations in the Region, with 55% agreeing they take a relaxed approach to raising their children, with very few or inconsistent rules. This is a stark contrast to the previous generation, with 66% of parents claiming that their own parents took a strict and clear approach to rules when they were growing up. This is demonstrated in day to day life. 55% of modern parents are more relaxed about what their children eat and drink than their own parents were, whilst 40% don't expect their children to help with household chores. Instead, modern parents in the North West are focussed on spending time with their children and supporting them emotionally.

The study, which was commissioned amongst parents in the UK by leading name label manufacturer My Nametags, reveals that over 3 quarters of modern parents in the North West believe they make more effort to spend quality time with their children (76%) than their parents did with them.

Parents also feel as though they show more love and affection to their children (70%) and insist on more family activities than their own parents did (64%). As a result, 67% feel their children can be more open and honest with them than they could be with their own parents.

This is reflected in parents' actions, with the research highlighting some stark differences between the generations in the North West. Whilst previous generations were more likely to support their children practically, by teaching their children to ride a bike (56%), buying ingredients for home economics at School (52%) and mending damaged clothing (48%), modern parents are more likely to spend quality time with their children. For instance, they are twice as likely to do arts and crafts at home (66%) and play imaginative games (57%) with their children than their parents were with them.

These significant differences between parenting styles are reflected in the fact that 33% feel uncomfortable with their own parents looking after their children.

Lars B Andersen, Managing Director at My Nametags, comments:- "At My Nametags we speak to parents and grandparents every day. We were interested to find out how parenting has changed throughout the generations because we know that life has changed so drastically in the last 30 years. Whilst there may be fewer rules in place, it doesn't mean that modern parents are hands-off. Instead, families today prioritise spending quality time together and developing children's soft skills."