Office Workers Now See Less Sunshine Than Coal Miners

With the first official day of summer this weekend, the  UK telco, BT is urging the millions of city workers "bound by darkness" to switch to occasional remote working - naturally using BT's network of Wi-Fi hotspots.

The company says that figures show that the majority of city workers are tied to their desks and see natural sunlight for less than an hour per day. Nearly a quarter (22%) see less than twenty minutes during the working day.

This lack of sparkle in their lives is clearly taking its toll, as nearly two thirds (65%) of workers admit they are depressed at the thought of not being able to get away from their desk to see more daylight. Four in five are unmotivated knowing theyÃ'll be stuck indoors working. There are even some that would consider throwing a "sickie" to boost their daylight exposure.

In response to the research, conducted by Ciao Research for BT Wireless Broadband, BT is launching a plea to city-centre bosses. Dave Hughes, BT RetailÃ's director of Wireless Broadband, explains: "Out of the office no longer means 'out of touchÃ' and workers can stay just as productive when not chained to their desks. The number of Wi-Fi enabled devices flying off the shelves coupled with widely available hotspots provides the tools to support remote working. LetÃ's just hope the British weather plays along this summer"

Stephen Alambritis, of the Federation for Small Businesses, foresees this lack of fresh air as becoming a significant sap on productivity: "Lack of sunshine or outdoors activity has an enormous effect on morale and productivity is likely to drop in tandem. With a wide variety of internet access options available to office workers, and more bosses approving remote working, thereÃ's never been a better summer for those workers stuck at their desks to get some productive time in the sun for their boss and themselves."

Posted to the site on 20th June 2008