Leader: Tube strikes a chord with teleworkers

Once again London's tube drivers have attempted to hold the capital to ransom with a day of strike action.

Clearly aggrieved at being paid 'just' double the wage of a graduate teacher in the UK these track jockeys have taken the day off and left companies and organisations in the country's financial heart to pick up the pieces and attempt to operate normally, often with skeleton staff.

But while the contempt for the tube drivers' actions shows little sign of lessening with each strike, the impact of their actions is surely diminishing. With widespread broadband access around the UK, increased awareness of flexible working models and remote access, teleworking companies are better positioned than ever to get a full days' work out of staff stranded at the end of the Northern Line.

Because of the ease of remote working many simply take the 'lifestyle choice' not to fight for space on crowded buses or overland trains and while there are many kinds of workers who cannot perform remotely, the actions of the stay-at-home brigade at least ease the strain on remaining forms of transport.

But rather than being merely an opportunity to vent some spleen about unpopular sections of the society and their tendency to strike, these days of hassle should remind us of the need to ensure where possible we have flexibility in our working models.

Tube strikes, broken legs, sick children, workmen on the roof - whatever the reason you're at home, and many are far more unseen than a Tube strike, there should now be no excuse for not working remotely if it's at all possible.

Companies need to seize the initiative and should be looking at expensing broadband, ensuring VPN access and doing what they can to make this a reality.

Estimates out today suggest the tube strike could cost the UK as much as £100m. We could install a lot of remote access for that.

Right, where's that bus map...