London, September 6 /PRNewswire/ --

- Survey Reveals That the UK Wants to get out of the Office but Flexible
Working Still Ceases to be a Real Option for Many

More than half of Britons would like to work outdoors given the choice,
according to research undertaken by Orange Business Services. But the poll
suggests that bosses continue to discourage employees from working flexibly.

Despite our washout summer, 56 per cent of workers would still like to
spend part of their week working outside demonstrating a resolute British
refusal to let the weather dampen their spirits, with the park the favoured
alternative destination. J K Rowling's make shift office, the coffee shop,
was the most popular choice for over a quarter (26 per cent) of the 
workforce with a further quarter opting for the tranquillity of a library, 
to complete work tasks.

Martin Lyne, director of small business, Orange Business Services, UK,
comments: "We're seeing a new shift in people's attitude to the work
environment. Even after such an awful summer people are still keen to leave
the confines of the office and work outdoors. The ready availability of easy
to use mobile technology and the increase of wireless hotspots is spurring on
people's enthusiasm. For the younger generation particularly 'at the office'
is a state of mind and there is no reason at all why the rest of the UK
workforce can't be as productive in the park or in the coffee shop as they
are when they are at their desk."

But the UK's enthusiasm for more flexible working is not matched by
employers. Thirty nine per cent of employees stated that their companies did
not offer flexible working while a further 32 per cent said that even if
their company did offer some type of flexible working it was either
discouraged or impractical.

However, the survey suggests that employee attitudes may be forced to
change. Amongst the 56 per cent who wanted to work outside, the largest age
group was between 18 and 34 years old, part of the generation Y and the
future workforce, who have grown up with the internet, mobile phones and the
emergence of flexible working.

Young entrepreneur and member of the Orange Graduate Panel, Luke Aikmen,
comments: "Young people no longer feel that they have to work in a office and
are starting to demand freedom in their working habits which might explain
some of the poll findings. The younger work force feels confident to try out
different things and experiment with their careers, which can mean starting
their own business or working in a contractor on consultant type role, hence
expecting or setting their own flexible working conditions. In order to
attract and keep new talent employers are going to have to look beyond the
four walls of an office."

On a regional scale the rolling hills and open waterways of Wales and the
Midlands inspired the greatest demand from employees to work outdoors, while
the Scottish still desired to work out of the office they felt the most
chained to their desks.

Details and further findings of the poll:

The YouGov poll asked over 1400 workers, across different age groups,
regions and gender, in the UK to give their views on working outside of the
office and working patterns.

Scottish workers felt the most constrained by their jobs with nearly 50
per cent from the region responding that flexible working was not an option
at their company.

41 per cent simply said they could not do their job other than in their
assigned place of work.

32 per cent said that even if their company did offer some type of
flexible working it was either discouraged or impractical.

Notes to Editors

About Orange

Orange is a key brand of the France Telecom Group, providing mobile,
broadband, fixed, business and entertainment services across Europe.It
is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with more than 163
million customers on five continents.

In June, 2006, Orange became the single brand for mobile, broadband and
multi-play offers. In addition, Orange Business Services became the new
banner for business communications solutions. Orange Business Services is
present in 166 countries with network reach in 220.

In the UK, Orange provides high quality GSM coverage to 99% of the UK
population. At the end of June 30 2007, Orange had over 16.5 million
customers in the UK - 15.2 million active mobile customers and over
1.3million Internet customers.

Orange and any other Orange product or service names included in this
material are trade marks of Orange Personal Communications Services Limited.
Further information about Orange and France Telecom can be found on the
Orange website at www.orange.co.uk or the France Telecom website at
http://www.francetelecom.com