Family & Fitness First!

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><root available-locales="en_US," default-locale="en_US"><static-content language-id="en_US"><![CDATA[<p>The great Indian family may be shrinking but as far as the Indian employee is concerned, he is happiest spending time with his family. A recent workplace survey by Regus, a provider of flexible workplaces, finds that as much as 51 per cent of Indian employees are being allowed flexi hours. They are free to work from locations other than their company's main offices for half a week or more helping them reduce the overall time spent commuting and giving them the freedom to choose work locations closer to home. <br><br>With flexible work-options come more free time and a large number of Indian employees would rather spend the extra time available with their families or on getting fit, says a latest survey.<br><br></p> <table style="width: 250px;" align="right" border="0" cellpadding="8" cellspacing="8"> <tbody> <tr> <td><img src="/businessworld/system/files/images/Home/wish-list_250x308.jpg" height="308" width="250"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>Spending time with partner and family topped the wish list of 85 per cent of the people interviewed while 83 per cent wanted to use the free time by exercising. The survey canvassed over 16,000 professionals in more than 80 countries.<br><br>Businesses have increasingly been offering flexible working practices to workers as morale and health benefits become common knowledge, but this research confirms that 72 per cent of the employees would also work harder, benefiting the company, if they could reduce their commute time. <br><br>A recent IBM Global Commuter Pain Survey (<strong><a href="http://www-03.ibm.com/press/us/en/pressrelease/35359.wss">Read</a></strong>) pointed out that 86 per cent of the respondents in Beijing, 87 per cent in Shenzhen, 70 per cent in New Delhi and 61 per cent in Nairobi reported traffic as a key inhibitor to work or school performance. Sixty seven percent of drivers in Mexico City, 63 per cent in Shenzhen and New Delhi and 61 per cent in Beijing said they had decided not to make a driving trip in the last month due to anticipated traffic – the most of all cities surveyed.&nbsp; <br><br>Madhusudan Thakur, Regional Vice President, South Asia, Regus says: "Although the number of professionals that are able to choose between different work locations is substantial, there is still significant progress to be made to help all workers benefit from more flexible conditions."<br><br></p>