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LAST UPDATE | 9 Feb 2022
SOMETIMES IT IS possible to see positive signs emerging, even from the darkest of times. One such possible glimmer of hope arising out of the devastating and terrible worldwide Covid-19 pandemic may be the move to flexible and remote working.
As the pandemic subsides, hopefully for the longer term, we must refocus our energies upon resolving the other crisis facing this and future generations; the global climate emergency.
If we in Ireland are to meet international commitments to halve the 60 million tonnes of annual carbon emissions we produce by 2030, then wide adoption of flexible and remote work practices is absolutely essential.
Remote benefits climate
Analysis carried out by Trinity College Dublin researchers shows that if every person who commutes to work by car could switch to remote working from home for just three days per week, we could avoid two tonnes of carbon emissions for every three participants over a year.
With more than a million commuters travelling to work in cars every day before the pandemic, such a development could greatly assist in the wider push to reach our vital carbon reduction targets.
And while research is ongoing on the differentials in energy use between office-based and remote working, all the evidence points to major carbon emission savings being produced by the intelligent use of flexible work arrangements.
Developing remote and flexible work patterns also makes economic sense. It could increase the active workforce in Ireland by hundreds of thousands, helping rebalance our economy to better face the challenges of an ageing population. In its research on flexible work, the Central Statistics Office has found that three in four respondents who were engaged full-time in-home duties, and almost seven in 10 of those unable to work due to longstanding health problems, would consider entering paid employment if it could be done remotely.
These changes would represent gains for all in society; with enormous social, emotional and psychological benefits for children and other family members where a more meaningful work-life balance can be achieved for the working adults in each household.
It makes sense
The environmental, economic and social benefits of flexible work are clear, so why does the Government not fully endorse these developments? No logical answer may be found – beyond a real fear of change.
Yes, moving to an economy that actively promotes remote and flexible work will mean that management approaches will have to be altered. And it will mean a rebalancing of some sectors of the economy away from congested city centres to suburbs, commuter towns and rural areas. However, such progressive change must happen – and we can make it so.
The conservatism being shown by the Government in this area is in stark contrast to the radical ability to change. Workers and businesses alike displayed incredible adaptability in response to the enormous threat of the pandemic. The move from the office to home working was not easy for many, but the readjustment of family lives was done with great determination and resolve – even when coupled with the immense difficulties of ‘home schooling’ for many.
Scrap the Bill
The reality is that change in most cases was a success, with surveys nationally, locally and in workplaces regularly showing that nine in 10 workers wish to retain their new flexible work patterns.
So how should we solidify and encourage these gains achieved over the last two years? For legislation to work, it must be clear in its aims.
Announcing his proposed Bill on ‘a right to request flexible work’ last month, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar claimed he wants to “change the culture” and “move the dial’ towards greater flexible work.
If this was truly his aim, then what he presented is simply inadequate. The Government’s proposals would actually roll back the progress that has already been made towards the greater use by businesses and workers of remote and flexible work practices that have been happening since March 2020.
The Government are of course fully aware that their Bill could not achieve its stated aims. It is a text which the Tánaiste has already started claiming will have to be ‘refined’, ‘amended’ and even ‘improved’.
If we accept that flexible work practices carry with them great social, environmental and economic benefits, it is counterintuitive to attempt to ‘amend’ the Government Bill to make it do something it is not fit to do. Instead, it is essential that we begin anew, with a piece of legislation that truly aims to protect the gains made by hundreds of thousands of workers during the pandemic in terms of a more flexible working life.
That is why the Labour Party is working with representatives of women in the workforce, employees with disabilities and with groups representing commuters, as well as with environmental groups, trade unions and industrial relations experts to assemble a piece of legislation that will provide a genuine ‘right to flexible work’.
‘Right to flexible work’
A right to flexible work will free up our clogged transport network, provide for a better work-life balance and cut climate emissions. It is a right based on the notion that we can’t just ignore the past two years, and must take account of work arrangements that have successfully evolved.
A right that recognises a real work-life balance. A right that will put what is best for our communities and our planet into the centre of the debate about our workplaces and our economy in post-pandemic Ireland.
The Bill will also contain proposals on remote working hours, protection for the right to disconnect; it will enable green audits of changing work practices and will include measures to incentivise businesses to move long-term to flexible work arrangements.
The flexible working legislation proposed by the Government represents a step back in time. It is time for government to plan instead for the future, for a post-Covid world where our towns and villages have been rejuvenated, where local entrepreneurship is encouraged; a world where we can fit in our social and family lives around our working lives.
Our Labour legislation would support citizens, employees and businesses to move with the times towards the creation of a fairer, more community-focused, family-centred and far greener workplace model. That is what Labour is proposing – a step forward for all.
Ivana Bacik is a Labour TD for Dublin Bay South.
I agree with Ivana! Everyone should have the same flexible work conditions as T.D.’s, especially during those long, lazy summer days until September and a bit of a break at Christmas and Easter as well…
@William Tallon: if everyone works from home you can bet taxes will increase as companies will shut offices and that means local councils loose out on rates, cafe and restaurant will struggle with the lack of footfall and your job will go to India, it has to be balanced
@Garreth mc mahon: Outsourcing the Dáil to India could have certain advantages though…
@Garreth mc mahon: I’d argue there’s more opportunity in renovating those buildings into flats and creating lovely well serviced neighbourhoods.
@Garreth mc mahon: Why would the job go to India? People keep saying this.. You do realize India has offices also, so why have the jobs not already gone to India??
@Garreth mc mahon: If cost was the only deciding factor, most jobs would move to India anyway but remote working arrangements have zero bearing on whether a job relocates to India or not. I’m not sure where this myth started but it’s being repeated relentlessly and it’s a total red herring. For example, I work for a large MNC. We moved much of our support and services out to India about 15 years ago. We brought most of it back because our customers want to speak to native English speakers and sometimes in their own local language. Many of us were already working from home previous to covid but now we all are. I’ve no doubt the company plans to reduce it’s office space here which reduces cost and makes us more competitive while we still have a space we can go and meet in from time to time. What’s not to like ? And that’s before we consider the benefits to the environment, traffic, quality of life Etc.
Cafes and restaurants are another red herring as those jobs and businesses will just move out to new hubs, smaller towns and other decentralised locations. Big office space in cities will be the ultimate loser but worst case scenario, buildings can be repurposed to provide badly needed housing and make cities more liveable again.
This is an amazing once in a generation opportunity for us to redefine how we work and live our lives but it’ll be completely squandered by this government because they don’t have the vision or the ability to try anything new.
@Garreth mc mahon: if they wanted my job in india it would be in india, fact is local communities will have all those services in local hubs around our towns and cities, lots of office space in dublin can be converted to apartments until a balance is struck
@Declan Doherty: Just to clarify, when you say ‘us’ redefining ‘how we work and live our lives’ are you referring only to that section of the population who like yourself can viably work from home? That’s how it appears to me. Large sections of the population will never be able to do so given the nature of their work but I take it you believe they should also matter in any redefinition of work and how we live our lives?
@William Tallon: any jobs that can be done that easily are being done in India – it’s not that simple.
@William Tallon: if those who can work from home do then it’s also a win for those who can’t. Less traffic on the roads – cutting their travel time to work. Less people on public transport making it a more comfortable journey by that means. People working in local towns get a boost to their businesses. Perhaps generation of new opportunities for people in rural towns.
@William Tallon: Remote working doesn’t suit every job or every employee and in many cases it’s just not possible. Clearly people in these roles will benefit less from new working arrangements which is unfortunate but it shouldn’t deter anyone from looking for increased flexibility and a better work life balance where possible.
@dottiemac: I’m somewhat confused by your reply I have to admit. I’m at a loss to understand how construction work or transport services in Ireland for example can easily be done from India? They can’t be done from home in Ireland much less from India as they’re ‘hands-on’ occupations. Those who work in these sectors are some of the people I was referring to. Many other occupations can’t be outsourced or done from home. I think maybe you’ve missed my point.
@dottiemac: Would that not also mean fewer people required to work on public transport, fewer buses and trains that require cleaning and maintenance leading to inevitable job losses? Or businesses in towns and cities dependent on the trade of certain workers losing revenue and having to close with jobs once again inevitably being lost? There will be winners and losers as there always are with change. Businesses in cities will lose and there are no guarantees that this trade will be replicated in rural locations. Only time will tell of course. I have nothing against anyone working from home, by the way, I just find the rosy picture you’ve painted to be somewhat fanciful.
@Declan Doherty: That’s clarified it for me. When you said ‘us’ and ‘we’ you were referring only to the interests of that group of which you’re part who can viably work from home rather than all workers. Now I understand where you’re coming from.
@William Tallon: There will never be a situation that suits all… One thing is for sure however, people who have the option to work form home and are doing so will benefit from it.. I know you did not mention this, however it is not these peoples responsibility how businesses are run if footfall is low… But that business goes elsewhere, supermarkets and cafes for example close to peoples houses… If businesses have not prepared for this then thats on them..
@William Tallon: I’m a maintenance electrician in the food industry. Can you tell me your ideas to schedule breakdowns etc so me being part of everyone can have flexible working conditions?
Probably something to do with the vested interest the many TD’s (landlords) have in insanely high rents in Dublin.
@The CFC Standard: That or the lack of decent national public transport and the profit to be had by increasing car sales?
Decentralisation! Makes sense to have ‘remote working hubs’ in Athlone, Cavan, Kilkenny, Wexford, etc. Rents are cheaper, lower cost of living, less travel and less issues with air pollution. But that’s too simple!
5% increase in traffic in the last month, if it keeps going we’ll be back at peak traffic by May.
Agreed, it was a welcome decrease and certainly road accidents are going up as well.
Tax, and deductions .
Eg., would you have the right to claim deductions for the cost of travel from your two places of work?
Nice big tax take for the government with all the cars stuck in traffic jams burning insanely expensive fuel.
@Ciaran Maher: do you think it costs more in monetary or carbon terms to heat and supply electricity to a house for 9 hours or pay for fuel for a car for an hour?
Should get the Healy Rae brothers to remote work instead of driving separately in their big diesel cars to Dublin from Kilgarvan every Dail day, would save tens of tonnes of carbon per annum.
Sounds great but every time you ring any utility , health body or county council the excuse you get for inaction or failure to deal with issues or complaints is that staff are working from home. Recently this aired again on a Joe Duffy Liveline programme highlighting Eir complaints ‘Staff working from home cosequent to company lack of contact with customer queries/ complaints.
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