One of the key threads to our Working Better initiative is transforming work to meet the challenges of the 21st Century. In exploring this theme we can build on work undertaken by the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) before it became part of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, in particular its Transformation of Work investigation. The new Commission will continue to develop this work, extending the scope even wider and creating practical tools and guidance to facilitate change. Transforming the way we work leads to greater equality by opening up options for people to participate in work as well as to more easily balance work with caring and other aspects of life.
The EOC's investigation into the transformation of work
The EOC undertook a General Formal Investigation (GFI) into the tranformation of work that concluded in June 2007. The two-year investigation engaged with policy makers, researchers and employers who were leading the way on transforming the workplace to explore and develop new models working.
It started from the premise that there had already been two generations of flexible working, developed in the late 20th century in response to the challenge of women working while caring. First-generation flexible working was about time flexibility and part-time work. Second-generation flexible working also focused on time but in addition started to explore space such as home working. A third generation appeared to be emerging as a response to increasingly rapid change caused by shifting labour markets, the challenges of globalisation, the 24/7 society and the changing work-life needs and aspirations of individuals. This third generation was heading beyond flexible working to multi-dimensional working, combining time-stretch and flexi-space options with greater control and choice for employers and employees over where and how work is done.
The investigation found widespread recognition that traditional ways of working fall short of what society, individuals and businesses need in 21st century Britain. Although business is where transformation will take place, it concluded that this is not just a change agenda for business. It found that flexible and multi-dimensional working brings business and social benefits as well as personal benefits and should be extended as widely as possible.
Download the final report and related materials
Final Report of the investigation - June 2007:
Enter the Timelords: Transforming work to meet the future (PDF 1 Mb)
Leaflet: Busting myths about new ways of working (PDF 258 Kb)
Leaflet: Ten practical tips for employers - transforming work to meet the future (PDF 264 Kb)
Comic strip magazine to illustrate four new models of working, based on case studies:
T-Squad - transforming work to meet the future (PDF 2 Mb)
Interim report (summary) of the investigation - January 2007:
Working outside the box: changing work to meet the future (PDF 928 Kb)
Find out more
You can find out more about the Transformation of Work investigation from the EOC webpages.
Other related investigations
The EOC's investigation into the transformation of work itself followed on from a series of earlier investigations that were all pointing to the need for more radical change in work structures. These included investigations into part-time and flexible working, pregnancy discrimination, and job segregation. You can find out more about this work from the EOC pages within this site.
EOC investigation into flexible and part-time work (concluded September 2005)
EOC investigation into pregnancy discrimination (concluded June 2005)
EOC investigation into gender barriers to better jobs (concluded March 2005)