A GREEN transport group is calling for UK employers to adopt smarter working policies in a bid to allow half the British population to work flexibly – either from home or remotely – by 2011.

The Association for Commuter Transport (ACT) is backing a campaign by Work Wise UK which claims smarter working will reduce travel congestion, increase employee retention and improve productivity.

Phil Flaxton, chief executive at Work Wise UK, said: ‘We all seem to be obsessed with the need to work nine to five, five days a week from a central location.

‘This rigid work structure, which is dictated purely by culture, is wasteful in terms of time and resources, damaging in terms of the enivronmental impact and harmful because of stress and health of staff. Smarter working is a win-win situation.

‘Any costs will be outweighed by an increase in productivity, and the social benefits of an improved work-life balance for employees will be far reaching.’