How SME Home Working Can Improve the Skills Gap

I think our SMEs (small and medium enterprises) and Corporations are missing a trick. In Britain and Ireland there is an army of bright, sophisticated people who find it nigh impossible to gain employment in their specialist areas. At times, when I meet with certain friends from this group, I see just how delicately society treats them and how employers can keep them at arms length. I'm enthused about the amount of latent talent in this group of so-called 'different' people; people who have the misfortune to be labelled as having a disability which devalues them in employers' eyes. 2

Flexible home-working practises can aid employers, employees and these potential employees by reducing wasted effort on commuting, reducing stress by the introduction of home-working routines and helping improve the skills gap by reengaging those excluded people. 2

I have known some shocking incidents of discrimination, throughout my life and from my years in medicine, so will expand upon one story from that forgotten skill set. Alan is now 41 and was diagnosed as schizophrenic when he was just 13. He is intelligent, ambitious and warm and always had a passion for politics. Despite completing his education and volunteering as a helper for his favourite political party, he simply could not get accepted for any paid work. After many job applications and no responses, his frustrated mother made a suggestion. Knowing Alan was capable of writing about political news and the complex implications of decisions, she encouraged him to write and submit his work to local papers and magazines. With almost 5 years of rejections and ignored applications, Alan began to gain a glimpse of recognition. Very slowly, he formed a local reputation and editors began to ask for a piece on one aspect or another, realising that readers wanted to know his thoughts. However, his presence was never required or requested in news offices. His dream of being a BBC Political Presenter slipped away and he enjoyed a strictly remote, freelance arrangement. For more information visit medix

A successful man, you may assume but only because he took the incentive to set himself up working from home. Not everyone's capable in that way and not everyone has the support or space that Alan did. Our school-registration tradition of working is unnecessary and impossible for some. There can be a level of trust between employer and employee based on quality and productivity, instead of physical presence. For more information visit medix

SMEs and large corporates all report that flexible home-working policies increase loyalty, productivity and efficiency. Home workers take full advantage of modern communication technologies which enable them to be flexible in their times, efficient and super-productive in their work. Employees who work flexibly tend to have more company loyalty and better quality of life, no doubt due in part to the low stress levels.

That's where my sales pitch could come in for garden offices as a perfect home-working solution. It's a fact that people with a chronic disease or genetic illness enjoy a better quality of life if they can work, even part-time. Work satisfaction boosts self-esteem and can distract from stressors. It's a feeling of being valued, needed and respected. It's an opportunity to give something back to the community and society. This vast excluded group may appear different from our traditional workforce but represent a sure way to close our skills gaps with remote working. If you like the idea - place your vote for this article. If you want to comment - you can do that too.

Article done by Jewel Gallagher Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jewel_Gallagher

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