Check networks before Olympics, businesses told

Check networks before Olympics, businesses told

Businesses might want to look into leased lines and other networking options ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games as the importance of homeworking has been highlighted.

The transport networks around the capital will experience significant disruption due to the extra load of people using trains and buses during the Games. The Transport for London and London 2012 Travel Advice for Business teams have explained the extent of the travel disruption to City AM, suggesting that firms should look into flexible working options as soon as possible.

Flexible working can involve altering shift patterns, but many firms are looking into allowing their employees to work from home for the duration of the event. One of the most important things to consider in this case is a secure network and reliable access to files and data held on the company's intranet.

“You can also create a secure private network, so employees can access the intranet and internally hosted files and data from home. Broadband internet access is essential and audio conferencing facilities can be useful, so staff can continue to communicate remotely with colleagues and external contacts from home,” the travel advice teams informed the paper.

The advice follows research conducted by BT, which revealed that home workers are 20 per cent more productive than those based in the office. They also take less sick leave, reducing office costs and, by improving retention, lowering recruitment costs.

However, the key point in making working from home a success is to ensure that the planning is put in at an early date so that all of the required systems and networks are up and running and thoroughly tested to suit the requirements of the individuals involved.

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