It seems that in some countries long commutes are becoming more of a health hazard.  British workers say that commuting makes them stressed and has a negative impact on their health, according to a study released today by Telewest Business, part of the Virgin Media Group.

The environmental impact of more people working from home is also gaining recognition around the world.  According to the study, more than half (52 per cent) of UK adults who could or do work from home believed that reducing their commuting made, or would make, them a ?greener? person.

Interestingly, flexible work schedules were introduced in Germany in the 1960s as a method to reduce daily traffic congestion problems. By questioning the business necessity of working a rigid 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM work shift, German management consultants determined that wider time bands would not adversely affect business operations and would yield mutual benefits for employees and management.

Traditionally, much of the US labor force has worked in a structured environment, with the work schedule following a set pattern ? a "9-to-5" workday.  Studies show that employers have begun to recognize that many workers prefer schedules that allow greater flexibility in choosing the times they begin and end their workday and when they will be on site. Consequently, increasing numbers and proportions of full-time workers in the United States are able to opt for flexible work. 

In the US we expect our workforce to be mobile.  Then mobility will need to blend both flexibility and job security to truly work.  The concept of Flexible work schedules, if implemented effectively, will allow employers to recruit from a deeper and larger talent pool.  This not only, allows employers to modernize the way things get accomplished, but may also lead to higher productivity.  And in many cases, it may create more jobs. 

One could argue that one of the biggest differences between European countries and the US in addressing work force issues is that Europe and other countries are looking at this issue from a government legislative perspective to find a solution and not from an individual employer policy perspective. 

We all know that flexible work schedules and other family-friendly programs can be effective tools in recruitment, reducing turnover and tardiness and increasing productivity, job satisfaction, and company loyalty. Collectively, these positively impact a company?s bottom line??.Not that we needed another reason to lobby for flexible work programs, but now you can add  - makes your employees ?Healthier? and ?Greener? people, to the list.