T-Mobile calls for dead time directive

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T Mobile is calling for businesses to embrace flexible and mobile working to ensure productivity is not hampered by whichever decision the UK reaches regarding the EU Working Time Directive.

On Friday, the mobile phone company published a white paper entitled 'Time for a Dead time Directive?' It calls for the issue of flexibility and mobility to be moved up the corporate agenda. The publication of the whitepaper comes in the shadow of the EU Working Time Directive, which dictates a working week that's capped at 48 hours.

The UK is still unsure as to whether it will sign up and, at present, allows employees to work extra hours if they want. According to the whitepaper, almost four million people in the UK currently work more than 48 hours a week, helping the country to maintain its competitive edge economically.

This will change if the country decides to opt in.

As a result of the ongoing decision-making process, T-Mobile wants to generate a fresh debate around working time to maintain the work/life balance, according to Derek Williamson, head of business marketing at T-Mobile UK.

"The UK government has recognised that a flexible workforce is a more productive workforce," he said.

"However, this should not necessarily mean working longer hours for those that do not wish to. Rather, people should be allowed to work on their own terms and take advantage of tools that enable them to work smarter."

Williamson said that more and more businesses are getting wise to the benefits of mobility, but he warned organisations to ensure buy in from both the business and IT stakeholders in order to be successful.

"The IT department needs to sit with the business units to understand both aspects of mobility, what benefits it brings and what it takes to make it happen.

"It's a case of understanding both sides of the equation," he said.

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