Aibu to think there's one very simple thing politicians could do to boost the economy?

[Graphista]

I wonder what you're thinking I mean.

I am thinking of properly paid and organised working from home.

With modern technology many jobs could be done from home yet employers are extremely reluctant to allow/support this.

Call handling (from technical support to phone banking to customer service)
Bookkeeping and accountancy
General admin
Mental health support/some physical health advice
Social media management
Web writing & editing
IT development and programming
Publishing & editing
Graphic design & other art/advertisement related work
Market research/opinion polling
Data entry
Some subjects tutoring...

There's loads. Be honest, could you do your job from home at least some of the time?

If employers were encouraged/incentivised to do this many people not currently working and claiming benefits would be able to work.

I'm currently not working as I have mh issues which one aspect is if I'm having a bad time I become agoraphobic but at home I would be perfectly capable of doing bookkeeping, editing, social media management, general admin etc (if I had the money to get a laptop/desk pc, printer. I already have unltd wifi, phones, I could easily set up a work area).

I am thinking it would work for many sahp and physically disabled people too. Especially for those who are relatively ok at home/their home is adapted whereas travelling to work, negotiating most work spaces is not feasible.

What do you think?

Peach

The do still collect this data - here

Current underemployment is 2.7m, down from the 3.1 in 2014 and lowest since June 2009.
Overemployment is at 3.3m, higher than any point since 2002 (when the tables start)

How can someone be 'over employed'?

Yes underemployment figs aren't accurately assessed. Also under 18's aren't included (I think it may even be under 22's now). Sahp with children under 5 aren't included. Carers aren't included (even if they could and would work if it were possible to work from home).

Mainly people like myself who's health situation currently prevents them from working outside the home but could do eg a general admin role, are not inc in unemployment figs.

Agree ALL govts massage the figures.

Its very isolating for a lot of people.

My son works from home. It's only the fact he has sports as an outlet that he sees other humans other than immediate family. He really misses office life.

To work from home you have be disciplined and also very insular.

People also forget to alter their house insurance (and yes I've just googled) your property becomes a place of business. Ergonomics are largely over looked. Time is fluid, there is rarely a clocking on and off, distractions constantly, the blur between home and office, you are always 'in'.

Also agree that job CREATION has to be addressed.

Paying a proper living wage would encourage people to spend not just in shops but on leisure activities and holidays.

A few birds with one stone would be allowing councils to build council houses or encouraging housing associations to build more would create lots of jobs AND we need the housing AND coupled with more spending money if wages improved, there'd also be more money spent on diy/decor products and services. And maybe we'd start getting the younger generations learning trades more like construction, painting and decorating, plumbing etc

Yes we need job creation as well as more flexibility from employers.

Another thing that's come up is the lack of childcare evenings/weekends. My dd is thinking of going into a career in early years care and education. Someone said to us childminders that did evenings/weekends would make a killing as so few do.

Stilldriving what you say is true but it would suit many people and those it doesn't wouldn't have to do it.

And if more people were doing it I suspect insurance costs would drop.

I work from home 3 out of 4 days. Ironically only since I've been a lot better, it would have helped when I was ill but going in to work daily. Negatives for economy if lots are at home no spending, so no bus/rail fares or parking, no coffees, lunches, no popping into shops st lunchtime etc. I spend lots on my office day. None on my wfh days.

What they need to do is scrap 1p and 2p coins and round all the prices up, so £1 instead of 99p. My purse is always full of copper and it's a total waste and just sits in jars at home.

The economy would receive quite a cash injection if they did this.

No it wouldn't helpimitchy it's more complicated than that re changes to currency.

U.K. Needs investment and job creation and for ordinary folk to have more disposable income which they will spend.