Hammersmith & Fulham Council employs 'Slivers-of-Time' workers » Local government » 24dash.com

First there was the nine-to-fiver, then the part-timer, but now one West London council is at the forefront of the newest development in flexible employment - the Slivers-of-Time worker.

Slivers-of-Time workers are people with a few spare hours who market their availability to do work through a website - www.slivers.com.

Hammersmith & Fulham Council is now employing workers through the website and is hosting a launch event with West London business people today to encourage them to do the same.

Council Leader, Stephen Greenhalgh, said: "Hammersmith & Fulham is the borough of opportunity and anything that helps Londoners to fulfil their ambitions must be supported. If you think of eBay as the market place for spare items, then Slivers-of-Time is the market place for spare hours."

Research has proved that many Londoners struggle to get jobs because of commitments like childcare, studying or health issues. In reality, these people have thousands of free hours a year.

The ability to sell Slivers-of-Time allows people to enter the workforce on their own terms at times of their choosing. Workers list the hours they wish to work, which are then bought by employers.

Local employers like the system because they are able to engage extra workers for short-notice requirements rather than relying on overtime or muddling thorough understaffed.

Councillor Greenhalgh concludes: "This sort of working was not possible before because we did not have the technology.

"There were always employers who wanted extra staff to work odd hours or cover peak times or absences. There were always residents with a few hours to spare in need of an extra income.

"Now we are matching these two groups of people together with Slivers-of-Time. It truly is a win-win situation for everyone."