In the knowledge economy, labor has become a complex process. Thus, flexibility came as a response to the traditional labor market rigidities in an attempt to control change and new possible risks, considering the relaxation of labor market regulation, the focusing on human factors, unlocking...

In the UK, the implementation of flexible working is seen as a key strategy in retention of nurses in the National Health Service (NHS) once they have children. However, Preference Theory argues that the majority of women returners are driven by motivations other than career or work, and that...

In recent years, particularly in the European Union, it is believed that the reduction of labor costs will contribute to the competitiveness and adaptability of enterprises and thus to maintain existing and create new jobs. Since the early 1990s, Greece following the guidelines of the European...

The pervasive impact of information technology, and the shift to a new economic paradigm has resulted in new ways of working. Successful organisations today are looking for work environments that unlock creativity, support collaboration, and ensure that the ideas of staff and collaborators are...

This paper discusses office design in the ‘new economy’. Office buildings of dot.com companies seem to be dominated by colourful materials, luxurious facilities such as gyms or lounge areas and gimmicks such as jukeboxes and pool tables. Employees ‘float’ around in these offices wherever...

Many organisations have changed to new ways of working, steered or followed up by design interventions and sharing of activity related workplaces. Expectations have been high. Innovative offices should lead to more efficient use of space and other facilities; greater job satisfaction; the...

In the early 1990s, a few organisations in the Netherlands began to experiment with flexible workplaces. Traditional cellular offices and the open‐plan offices or team‐oriented bullpen spaces in which everyone had their own fixed workplace were no longer a matter of course. Making use of...

This paper describes the implementation of flexible working at PPP Healthcare to increase productivity. The author sets out suggestions put to PPP staff on new ways to consider the workplace. This is followed by a short case study showing how PPP implemented a new way of working project.

This paper starts with the assumption that local authorities, under the new public management, may use job sharing as part of an equal opportunities policy in order to attract and retain experienced and professional employees. Data collected from 32 councils in England and Scotland have shown...